Resale-value anxiety: 72% of German drivers fear EV depreciation - what TCO shows

The most common fear about electric cars is not range or charging - it is resale value. According to the DAT Report 2026, a striking 72% of German drivers are unsure about the resale value of EVs. Is that anxiety justified, and if so, how should it enter your TCO calculation?

Where the anxiety comes from

The report lists concrete worries: 72% uncertain about resale value, 70% afraid of expensive repairs, 67% worried about being stranded, 65% anxious about battery fires. These feelings drive behaviour: only 13% of used-car buyers would consider a used EV. And weak demand on the second-hand market is exactly what depresses residual values - a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Why depreciation is the biggest TCO line

In a typical five-year ownership calculation for a new car, depreciation is the largest cost block - often bigger than fuel and servicing combined. So even an EV's low energy costs do not help if the car loses value faster than it saves on electricity. The lesson: judge an EV on full TCO, not on charging cost alone.

How to tame the risk

Three strategies: (1) buy a used EV where the first owner already absorbed the steepest depreciation; (2) lease a new one so the residual risk sits with the lessor (which is why 45% of EVs in Germany are leased); (3) choose models and brands with documented value stability - premium BEVs tend to hold value better than mass-market ones.

Above all, do not guess. Our TCO calculator models depreciation across scenarios and shows whether lower energy costs offset the residual risk for your mileage and holding period.

Sources: DAT Report 2026 (short report), model year 2025, Deutsche Automobil Treuhand / NIQ GfK (charts E3, E14, P38); czympojade.pl RealTCO v4.0 - depreciation model (2D age x mileage curves).