Cost advantage with e-cars: Opponents of combustion engines are running out of arguments

Anyone who buys an e-car often has to come to terms with high prices – environmental bonus or not. In the long term, however, the electric car should not only be the more environmentally friendly, but also the cheaper alternative to the combustion engine. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that so far.

Combustion engines have an advantage: e-cars are more expensive – and will remain so

Electric cars must gradually abandon the image that customers can save a lot of money with them. At least that’s the impression you get when you look at the current situation. This is not only due to the extremely high electricity prices. Battery-powered vehicles are significantly more expensive to buy – and have been from the start. There are many indications that this Price gap to the detriment of e-cars nothing will change any time soon.

Several car manufacturers are currently warning of exactly this, with VW at the forefront: according to Arno Antlitz, CFO of the group, which also owns brands such as Skoda, Porsche and Audi New cars more expensive in the future. Even if VW tries to absorb cost increases in order to be able to offer customers affordable vehicles, there is no way around rising prices. A small glimmer of light remains: VW wants to continue to hold on to the window between 20,000 and 25,000 euros for its cheapest electric car – at least so far.

The CEO of the group, Oliver Blume, has also made it clear that it no short-term price reductions at VW should give. From the customer’s point of view, this is a double cold shower: prices tend to continue to rise and offers are not to be expected. If you want to stock up on a new car in this situation, you should have deep pockets.

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Car manufacturers and politicians agree: Euro 7 shouldn’t happen like this

Because VW is not alone with the forecast: the French manufacturer Renault is also showing signs of price increases. Luca de Meo, head of the car manufacturer, recently warned of the effects of Euro 7. The planned emissions standard is primarily concerned with combustion engines. But the development of lower-emission classic engines to comply with Euro 7 would tie up capital.

In the worst case, this money could no longer be available to further develop electric drives. That in turn should higher prices for e-cars for the coming years. A concern shared by the German Prime Ministers Winfried Kretschmann, Markus Söder and Stephan Weil. In an open letter, you asked the Federal Chancellor not to support the current version of Euro 7. Mercedes, BMW and VW will thank the country bosses.

China manufacturers expensive, only Tesla can push prices down

But not only the European manufacturers are currently giving little hope of falling prices. Ford has about clarified that the Price cuts for electric flagship Mustang Mach-E intended for the US market only. German customers therefore hardly need to rely on falling prices.

There is no trace of China bargains among the new e-car brands:

And even the Chinese manufacturers, who are increasingly focusing on the European markets, want that too with their new self-image shake off the cheap Chinese image. If you want to buy an electric car from the new brands like Nio, BYD, Ora or Wey, you have to dig at least as deep into your pocket as for comparable models from established brands – if not more. However, this strategy does not go down well with German customers.

For German customers there is currently practically only at Tesla real discounts. But the US manufacturer has never been a volume brand either. Even the cheapest Model 3 at the current best price is by no means for every car buyer.

All these problems show: Who is currently on a Price advantage of e-cars speculates, you really have to be very optimistic about it – or have a breath for years. Because the question of costs is currently decisive. But the combustion engine has an expiration date: In the EU, by 2035 at the latest, it will no longer be: Do I want to spend my money on an electric car or a combustion engine? But: electric car or none at all.