'Almost impossible to sell used electric vehicles': EVs make up less than 2% of used car sales across European countries

Electric vehicles have not sold well in the used car market in Europe, with consumers fearful of a lack of charging stations and driving distance capabilities of the cars.

A report by independent European outlet Euractiv explained that the largest electric vehicle markets in the European Union have not seen anywhere near the expected numbers for a secondhand, used-car market.

In Germany, which has the most electric vehicles on the continent, used EVs only make up 1.58% of new ownership registrations as of November 2023. This is an increase over 1.23% in 2022.

The figure comes from a group representing German car dealers (ZDK), while other industry groups from Italian and Spanish markets reportedly place their used EV registration rates at less than 1%.

"When looking at these figures, the question arises as to whether it is even possible to speak of a real used [electric] car market at the moment,” ZDK's Marcus Weller told Euractiv.

Factors contributing to the poor sales of secondhand EVs include the higher purchase price, a perceived lack of charging stations, and the fact that the consumer worries about the driving range of plug-in cars.

Weller also explained that despite battery technologies improving in recent years, it will be some time before the stronger batteries in newer vehicles make their way into a second owner's hands.

"These vehicles will not be available on the used car market for another two to three years at the earliest. And even then, the question arises as to whether there is already something better on the market," he noted.

Friedrich Trosse, the general secretary of AECDR, a trade association of European car dealers, said that gas-powered vehicles are the safer option in the eyes of the consumer.

"The situation everywhere in Europe is pretty much the same. To say it very clearly, it’s almost impossible to sell used electric vehicles,” Trosse claimed. The car dealer representative also tacked on to the issue of electric cars being too expensive.

"Specifically the small cars, if they exist, are incredibly expensive, much more expensive than their [internal combustion engine] alternative."

AVERE, an EV advocacy group from Brussels, Belgium, disagreed with the figures put forth by the car dealers.

There is a "lack of trustful and aligned data" said Philippe Vangeel, AVERE secretary general. Vangeel echoed a similar sentiment put forth by the Canadian government, that the demand for electrical vehicles is so high that the wait times are too long for consumers.

"The pressure on the secondhand market is quite big [in terms of] demand for EVs, and people are really looking around where to find them," he claimed.

The advocate also blamed car dealers for lacking knowledge in electric vehicles, which he said makes them less inclined to push the EV models.

Vangeel noted that there should be an increase of electric vehicle purchases in Europe when governments force consumers' hand through low-emission zones.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!