Status: 15.01.2024, 11:39 a.m.
By: Bjarne Kommnick
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Electric cars are the mobility of the future. Or is it? The hype about the more environmentally friendly electric cars seems to be over for the time being – there is a great deal of uncertainty on the market.
Bremen – Some time ago, electric cars were the great hope for the future. Although a study currently refutes the prejudices of an allegedly poor ecological balance of electric cars and, according to a survey, the range fears of e-car owners are becoming less and less, doubts about electromobility have spread in many places over time. Car expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer from the Bochum-based Center Automotive Research – also known as the "Autopapst" – is now once again fuelling the discussion.
Like "hot potatoes": E-car market unsettles landlords and dealers
Dudenhöffer told focus.de that the partial withdrawal of car rental company Hertz from the e-car business could be an expression of a larger development. "A wave is building up against the electric car when rental companies, leasing companies, dealers and ultimately also used car buyers are unsettled," says the expert.
Because the resale value of many Teslas is reduced, there is uncertainty among car rental companies. © Patrick Pleul/dpa
According to Dudenhöffer, electric cars are therefore currently being passed on like "hot potatoes". According to the expert, the highest risk lies with manufacturers who are now trying to bring their electric cars to market with high price reductions. The uncertain performance could also play a significant role for private individuals.
"Uncertainty on the market could hardly be greater": Car rental company Hertz replaces 20,000 electric cars
Previously, the Hertz Group had announced that it would replace around a third of its e-car fleet with combustion engines. In total, 20,000 electric cars are affected. In doing so, the company would want to meet customer demand. Among other things, repeated price reductions by Tesla will be cited as reasons, as this would have significantly reduced the resale value of the vehicles. In addition, repairs are about twice as expensive as with combustion engines.
The effects are not only noticeable at the car rental company: "The uncertainty in the market could hardly be greater." The upcoming U.S. presidential election would also play a role in this: "With a President Trump, the electric car is dead in the U.S.," says industry expert Dudenhöffer. In Germany, too, a large part of the uncertainty can be traced back to decisions made by politicians – among other things, because government premiums have been cancelled.
New electric cars are becoming more expensive – and, according to experts, therefore less attractive
Unlike used cars, however, consumers had to pay significantly more for new electric cars in 2023 than a year earlier, according to ADAC. In the past year, e-cars have become 4000 euros more expensive on average. This also has an impact on the attractiveness of electric cars: "While the range and charging capacity of electric models are developing relatively well, the market ramp-up of electric mobility is suffering significantly from competitive purchase prices compared to combustion engines," warns Stefan Bratzel. However, "expensive SUVs" account for a relatively high market share of 18 percent, according to the expert from the Center of Automotive Management (CAM) research institute.
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But despite the doubts among landlords and customers, many manufacturers continue to focus on an electronic future, even if, for example, VW's electric car strategy is shaky. But Chinese manufacturers in particular want to conquer the European market with electric cars. The ADAC also recently reported that there has never been "such a flood of new electric cars as there is today". Among the models are now "a whole series of previously completely unknown manufacturers".