The average price of advertisements for used electric cars continues to decrease, driven by the arrival of cheaper models. But for the moment, second-hand EVs seem to appeal mainly to motorists who already own electric vehicles.
The avalanche of new electric offers is starting to have an effect on the second-hand market. According to the first “VPOE” (Electric Used Private Vehicle) barometer carried by Mobilians, AAADAta and Renault Group, the offer is evolving significantly. If the share of electric transactions remains low in the VO market, with just over 28,000 sales in the first quarter (2% market share), electric vehicles are gaining momentum. The problem is the volatility and instability of this market with very random residual values.
And then, there is this other particularity raised by the barometer: “An in-depth analysis shows that 25% of individuals who purchased a used electric car already owned an electric vehicle before resale, over the period from 2018 to the first quarter of 2024. This demonstrates loyalty to electric technology, with users convinced of its advantages who choose to renew their choice rather than returning to thermal engines“. To this, a double reading: the buyer of used EV is certainly convinced of the technology, but at the same time, the second-hand EV would therefore struggle to attract those who are still in thermal, despite plummeting prices.
Trust, and the discount
The electric vehicle market is very different from that of thermal vehicles. Perhaps even more than price, the primary criterion remains trust. Many customers logically ask the question of the state of health of the battery, and this is probably what explains why the vast majority of VPOE sales are made to a professional. which can provide a possible guarantee. In other words: reselling a used electric vehicle as an individual could become a real mission.
Of course, everything will depend on the model in question. The Leboncoin platform estimates that in 2024, there could be 40,000 advertisements for used electric vehicles. But the research profile is limited… to Tesla: “Overall, the hegemony of Elon Musk’s brand remains significant and the gap is widening with the competition since 40% of requests are currently dedicated to Tesla compared to 33% between January and May 2023“. The request for the Renault Zoe, however, comes in second position, just behind the Model 3. Some electric vehicles could thus be complicated to resell, which could add to the problem of the discount: between January and May 2024, the average price of electric vehicle ads increased from €29,289 to €26,898.
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