Electric car owners change vehicles every 3.6 years on average, compared to 12.5 years for a thermal car. A strange fact which obviously questions the legitimacy of electric cars to replace thermal cars.
But why do owners of electric cars give up on them after 3 or so years?
Technological innovation makes old models obsolete
The electric car sector is experiencing a real technological revolution. Every year, manufacturers present models with more efficient batteries, increased autonomy and reduced charging times.
It’s rather simple, an electric vehicle purchased today will be technologically outdated in three years.
Concrete example with the first Tesla models having a range of 350 km. Today, some cars easily exceed 600 km.
Rapid progress naturally pushes owners to want to take advantage of the latest advances. Especially since the new models integrate autonomous driving features and ever more sophisticated infotainment systems.
A massive discount that encourages rapid renewal
The residual value of electric cars falls faster than that of thermal vehicles. This accelerated discount can be explained by several factors.
First, the condition of the battery becomes a major concern among motorists after a few years of use. Then, constant technological progress makes older models less attractive on the second-hand market.
Faced with this situation, many owners prefer to resell their vehicle before depreciation becomes too significant. Statistics show that an electric car can lose up to 50% of its value in three years. Keeping your vehicle longer therefore represents a financial risk that few are willing to take.
Leasing is emerging as a popular solution
Manufacturers and financing companies understand this dynamic well. They now offer particularly attractive 36 or 48 month leasing packages.. These offers often include maintenance, insurance and sometimes even the installation of a charging station at home.
Leasing allows drivers to always drive a recent vehicle without worrying about resale. At the end of the contract, they can simply opt for a new, more efficient model.
Despite studies showing an insignificant impact of mileage on battery life, motorists are still prisoners of this belief. Even if manufacturers offer guarantees of up to 8 years, regularly changing electric cars reassures tenants.
This trend towards rapid renewal nevertheless raises environmental questions. Manufacturing an electric car generates a significant carbon footprint, mainly due to the production of the battery.
Renewal every three years multiplies this impact, even if the results remain generally favorable compared to thermal vehicles.
- Electric cars experience major technological advances every 2-3 years
- The steep discount pushes owners to resell before too significant a loss in value
- 36-month leasing is emerging as the preferred solution for buyers
