For electrics, the calculation of residual value remains an unknown quantity

The diffusion of electric cars in our country is proceeding slowly and suffers from a number of gaps, among which a particularly relevant uncertainty factor is the residual value of cars that are put on the second-hand market at the end of their first cycle of use. This factor is particularly valid for company fleets, since it heavily influences the definition of the rental fee. The study 'An electric choice today. A valuable choice tomorrow', the result of collaboration between Motus-E and Quattroruote Professional, sets out to shed light on the issue, with the aim of delving into the various elements that contribute to defining second-hand electric vehicle prices. A first element to highlight is the fact that second-hand electric vehicle prices have been influenced by the alternating presence of the Ecobonus, between 2019 and 2024. However, what has weighed most heavily on prices to date has been the spread of a misperception of the real longevity of batteries. Beyond the useful life of the accumulator, which can easily exceed that of the car itself, the misunderstanding has concerned the so-called 'residual capacity' of batteries. An analysis of a sample of 5,000 used electric cars conducted with Power checK Control (Pkc), however, shows an average battery degradation of just 1.5 per cent per year. This trend in residual capacity results in a change in autonomy that is imperceptible in daily use and marginal on longer journeys, especially for car types designed for high mileage. The state of health of the battery of a used electric vehicle can then be easily verified with an immediate diagnostic test, providing an incontrovertible and reliable indication for determining the vehicle's price.

Another aspect that has affected prices stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of the state of technical progress on the battery front, which has fuelled an unjustified fear of the imminent arrival on the market of technologies that are much more advanced and economical than the current ones. In this regard, the report indicates that in 10 years, the average approved range of electric models on the Italian list has almost tripled. However, in recent years the rate of increase has slowed considerably, showing that lithium technology is substantially mature. Lastly, due consideration must be given to the effect on prices of the continuing growth of the network of public charging points (charging points in Italy have almost doubled in the last two years), which will make new and used electric cars increasingly attractive.