Analysts compared the depreciation of electric cars with petrol and diesel vehicles. They found that the price of a three-year-old electric car is 50.7 percent of the cost of a new one, for a petrol car it is 53.1 percent, and for a diesel car – 55.8 percent.
Interestingly, these figures differ somewhat from those previously cited by the “German Automobile Trust” (Deutsche Automobil Treuhand, DAT). In their study conducted this spring, they determined that after 3 years an electric car is worth 51% of its original value, while a fuel-powered car is 56%. Moreover, just a year ago, an electric car was valued the same as a car running on traditional fuel.
The reason for this difference remains the same: if over the same three years petrol and diesel cars have largely not changed, then electric cars have moved far ahead. In other words, a three-year-old electric car already lags significantly behind a new one in terms of range, charging speed, energy efficiency, etc. But most importantly – the greater the mileage, the higher the likelihood of battery degradation and failure. That is, it noticeably loses to a new EV in key parameters.
However, it should be understood that an electric car wins in terms of low operating costs – firstly, it does not require large expenses on fuel, secondly – scheduled maintenance costs less, plus it is performed less frequently.
