here's how to keep your electric car as long as possible

An electric motorist since 2021, David drives a lot for his professional and personal needs. This is why he replaces his electric car early as the end of the manufacturer's warranty approaches. However, he would like to keep his vehicles longer. Hence this idea of ​​external coverage specific to the battery which would also have other benefits, including that of adding confidence in the second-hand EV market for low-income households.

An example situation

David, we already gave him the floor recently. It is this head of a construction company who made a 6,000 km road trip to Norway this summer with a Renault Scenic E-Tech towing a folding caravan. He came back to us with an interesting idea that he wanted us to develop. The whole thing was so well put together that it seemed difficult to explain it other than by letting our Breton reader speak again.

The latter is very interested in the electromobile world. Which feeds his thinking: “ I imagined a whole system following an idea put forward one day by Jean-Christophe from the EV channel, I don't remember when. Without follow-up since, I however wanted it to come to fruition, why not through Automobile Propre which could reach actors ready to take up the subject ».

For example: “ In the next two or three years, many Tesla Model 3s will be out of warranty while becoming accessible to more motorists through the second-hand market. If the battery were to fail quickly after purchase, the consequences could be catastrophic for some. Having just spent, for example, 16,000 euros on the purchase of the vehicle, many of them will not be able to pay the following month the 13,000 euros that a standard exchange of the lithium pack on this car costs. ».

Also readRevolte wants to change the rules to more easily repair electric cars

The case of heavy rollers

David does not necessarily intend to buy a used Tesla Model 3 anytime soon. But this problem that he has just raised concerns him too, in a different way. As a reminder, the counter of its previous Kia EV6 crossed 90,000 km after a little over two years. Hence its resale before getting too close to the 150,000 km which constitute one of the warranty limits for this model: “ Battery coverage on electric cars runs for really long periods. But, for many users, the 150,000 or 160,000 km arrive far too quickly ».

He himself could have behaved differently: “ External insurance securing the risks on the battery would have constituted a parachute which would have allowed me to keep the Kia EV6 much longer. I'm happy to drive an EV because they are more virtuous vehicles. But there is absolutely no virtue in replacing my car every 3 years. Today, as a business manager, when I change, I sell to an individual who is switching from thermal to electric. It's good, and I have a good conscience, but it won't always be like this ».

Our reader compares: “ There has been a lot of talk about Renault's locabat. If this formula was not necessarily good on all levels, it had the merit of providing complete peace of mind regarding the durability of the battery. We need to find a better system, and fairly quickly. Since 2020, we have seen more and more electric cars with high mileage arrive on the second-hand market. ».

Pooling

David is aware of this, “ we cannot guarantee everything ad vitam aeternam on an electric car. It's about finding the right measure to provide confidence in the durability of batteries and the vehicles that carry them. An insurer today will have difficulty offering anything. Already, because of the high prices that manufacturers charge to replace a lithium pack. My idea is based on the creation of a separate solidarity fund which would not be included in the classic loss ratio. It would exclusively take care of incidents on batteries ».

This is not a simple warranty extension that the manufacturer would grant: “ This usual extension system is generally an insurance product that ends up costing a lot if we generalize it to everything, such as televisions, smartphones, etc. The cover I'm thinking of would allow you to ride peacefully. Pooling the risk on batteries out of warranty would improve confidence and ensure that we keep our electric vehicles longer ».

Using the example of a Tesla Model 3: “ I wouldn't risk buying a 2019 Tesla Model 3 with 200,000 km for €20,000 today. On the other hand, if coverage allowed me to avoid possible expenses in the event of a problem with the battery, that would change everything. For the other elements of the car, Tesla after-sales service would remain my responsibility. ».

Cost normalization

Our reader perceives a possible pitfall: “ It seems to me that if we cannot put such a system in place, we risk seeing a huge waste with an abundance of second-hand electric cars that will not find buyers. An electric car is not like any other. With it, it's a bit like having a lifelong reservoir of energy. ».

In his reflection, David starts from the principle that the establishment of a mutual type system or solidarity fund specific to batteries would have among the secondary beneficial effects of achieving a certain standardization of costs: “ This is why I think that it would not be up to manufacturers to provide a solution, but rather to insurance companies. ».

It is the latter who could put in place “ a database which would be common to them in order to have useful statistics on the repair costs which are currently very vague on batteries. Manufacturers and workshops would be obliged to provide clear prices for interventions. The aging of the packs would also be observed seriously ».

Financial aspect

The business manager gives an example of pricing that should not necessarily be taken at face value: “ If 1,000 members pay 120 euros per year, this could create a fund of 100,000 euros, the rest going to the guarantee organization. We thus have enough to replace the battery as a standard exchange for 8 unlucky Model 3 LR owners. The new pack would of course still benefit from Tesla's 4-year, 80,000 km warranty. In these conditions, I agree immediately ».

David imagines that the support is not necessarily comprehensive: “ It can only work if insurers manage to generate margin. It's about finding the right settings that would allow low-income households in particular to access second-hand electric cars with confidence. The system would make models offered at affordable prices attractive due to age and/or mileage. ».

Also readRevolte helps independent mechanics who want to maintain electric vehicles

Another player in electric mobility could have added value in the system: “ Networks of specialized repairers, such as Revolte e-Garages, could join the discussion. Such a system is undoubtedly likely to constitute a major business aspect for them. “. The convinced electromobilist also appeals to you: “ I would like the community of Automobile Propre readers to evaluate the feasibility and comment on this idea. The debate would benefit from receiving the opinion of insurers ».

Automobile Propre and I thank David very much for offering us his idea which is just waiting to be brought to fruition.

In order not to discourage our readers from testifying in the future, any derogatory comments about our interviewees, their lives, their choices, and/or their ideas will be deleted. Thank you for your understanding.