When Do You Commerce In Your EV For A New One?

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Our Tesla Mannequin 3 is now seven years outdated and we’re about to commerce the automotive in for a Tesla Mannequin Y. The rationale? Is it as a result of we’ve achieved over 180,000 km (about 112,000 miles) and can be more likely to require costly upkeep? Is battery degradation an issue? Is it as a result of we wish new tech? Is the automotive getting shabby? Are we attempting to beat depreciation? To remain in vogue? Has the lease run out?

Within the good outdated days that everybody longs for (’50s and ’60s), in case you obtained 100,000 miles out of your automotive, you have been doing effectively. It was simple to know when to let George go — all the above. Now, automobiles are constructed a lot better, they’re rust proofed, they usually have increased high quality engineering. I do know Uber drivers who’re pushing half 1,000,000 kilometres who’re pleased to maintain driving the identical automotive. I requested my pal Nathan Merritt of Ride4U when he would think about buying and selling in his Mannequin 3 — and he mentioned after 700,000 km — maybe. We now have even have mentioned battery degradation previously, and he confirms that like us, he has misplaced about 10% of vary. 

Regardless of the FUD, batteries don’t die the second the guarantee runs out. Degradation is minor and manageable. A lot doesn’t must get changed: gear containers, timing belts, rings and bearings, water pumps. These are simply a number of the issues that I’ve needed to have achieved on growing old petrol automobiles.

Not solely are these automobiles driving longer; they appear to be made of higher supplies which nonetheless look good after lengthy use. And, sure, we cart our carrying and tearing grandkids round quite a bit. As for the tech, our Tesla continuously updates, and so that isn’t actually a problem — aside from the truth that we’ve {Hardware} 3. As for beating depreciation — too late for that. We now have to grasp {that a} automotive will not be an appreciating asset. It depreciates like all expertise — cellphones and laptops don’t improve in worth. Our final petrol automotive value AU$38,000 and was traded in for simply AU$1,700. Tesla’s don’t change a lot on the skin, so that they don’t should sustain with what’s modern.

Right here’s the problem: not the automotive, however the growing old driver. We now have made the choice to purchase a Mannequin Y primarily as a result of we’re deteriorating and discover it laborious to get down and get in. The Mannequin Y is a better possibility. Additionally, it might be good to enhance our driving with Tesla’s FSD (Supervised). A lot of our technology in Australia rave about how good it’s. A lot as I’m detest to let my Mannequin 3 go — we’ve had many adventures — I’m consoled by the truth that it can go to one among my youngsters and thus keep within the household.

Properly, that’s my 2 cents value, and naturally it’s Tesla centric and thus biased. I canvassed my contacts to see what they thought. Listed here are some ideas from Don who’s a fan of BYD and drives an Atto 3. It was his remark that he deliberate to improve to the brand new Atto 3 EVO that provoked this text.

“I’d be pleased to work with you on the very best time to commerce in an EV for a brand new one. As we mentioned, I don’t know precisely when that’s, or if we must always nonetheless base the choice upon what we used to do with an ICE car or is it now extra about comfort or simply want for a brand new mannequin/automotive.

“I’ve been taking a look at a number of the new entries coming to the Australian market, primarily in an analogous measurement to the Atto 3, and the variety of decisions now could be actually fairly superb. Battery expertise, for me anyway, continues to be a significant contributing issue, together with some higher creature comforts to raised accommodate the older physique. Just a few variants appear to align, however there are a lot of that provide one a part of the bundle, and never the opposite.

“Speaking to varied attendees of each teams with whom we interact continuously, it seems that these two standards are a typical requirement: battery expertise; creature comforts.

“That is the explanation that I imagine the Atto 3 has been so effectively obtained within the Australian market.

“The Atto 3 does fail in a number of the creature consolation areas, as we mentioned, however it usually supplied higher battery expertise than the rival Tesla (on the time of launch), which made the choice simpler for some. As you recognize, Tesla is now providing that higher security packaged battery, which has offered the chance to regain an edge on its gross sales.

“Different newer entries into the market are nonetheless providing NMC battery expertise in effectively outfitted autos, which, for me, will not be an possibility I might be snug with.”

I requested Neil Warner, who has traded in just a few EVs, for his ideas. He highlighted his want to remain throughout the producer’s guarantee interval. The truth that some folks can’t alter to the dearth of buttons and knobs or would possibly discover that they’ve purchased an EV that doesn’t meet their vary necessities may result in a changeover. He likes to alter typically to cut back depreciation.

CleanTechnica readers responded: “Preserve shopping for and buying and selling in these BEVs, the world wants as many within the fleet as we are able to get.” Others have been eager to push a perceived benefit with Tesla’s FSD (Supervised). “Who desires a brand new EV that may’t drive itself safer than 99% of human drivers? No different auto producer is remotely near the superior driving security, effectivity, and expertise that comes normal with each new Tesla.”

Arthur Hunt, who has championed FSD (Supervised) in just a few CleanTechnica articles, right here and right here, additionally weighed in, at my request:

“Our first 2020 Tesla was nonetheless performing effectively after 110,000 km. Nevertheless, the HW3 {hardware} wouldn’t help FSD (Supervised) so we upgraded and have loved the complete FSD expertise. It is usually a lot safer. There are additionally some minor enhancements equivalent to self-opening and shutting boot lid, and a warmth pump for cabin heating which is extra environment friendly. We nonetheless get pleasure from a stalk for the symptoms and have discovered gear change on the monitor simple to make use of. We now have not made a lot use of Grok.”

“This week we requested the automotive to take us to the keppel Bay Crusing Membership and specified entry to the parking space. It did that after which did a reverse angle park in a vacant spot that it discovered. On an amusing observe: this week, after exiting the automotive, I obtained a telephone alert to return instantly, as there was a toddler locked within the automotive. It was really the sunshade sticking up on the again seat, however reassuring that the alert works.”

Neil Warner offered thefollow info:

“1/ Why Commerce Tesla 3 for Y Efficiency?

“The Tesla Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary Twin Motor (M3 LRDM) was dipping my toes in to the world of EV’s and the most suitable choice for me on the time in 2021. The Mannequin Y was not out there then.

“The M3 LRDM carried out effectively, was environment friendly nevertheless the trip was harsh at decrease (city) speeds. Entrance seat room was okay nevertheless rear seat room was tight. Entry/exit to the rear seats was troublesome for my in-laws as a result of car being low and the door openings not being that enormous. Floor clearance was problematic being low (140mm) so one needed to be vigilant when entering into to driveways of kerb heights.

“Storage was good with giant frunk and boot. Nevertheless, the opening (aperture) for the boot was small and restricted what you will get in to the trunk (I’ve all the time been a fan of hatchbacks as a result of their practicality).

“We bought our Mannequin Y Efficiency (MYP) in 2023 which mainly solved these points. The MYP is bigger car with a hatchback, increased floor clearance (157mm) with entry/exit to the rear seats being simpler for my in-laws as a result of seats being mounted increased and wider door openings. The entrance seats are mounted increased (on plinths) so that you slide on to them slightly than having to drop down on to them within the M3 LRDM. The trip was marginally higher. Storage was a lot larger than the M3 LRDM with the tailgate making it vastly extra sensible.

“2/ Why Commerce the MYP for the Polestar 4 Lengthy Vary Twin Motor?

“We bought our Polestar 4 Lengthy Vary Twin Motor (P4 LRDM) in early 2025. I usually preserve our automobiles round two years and am lucky to have a wholesome finances which opens up choices for to wider number of EVs. Having had two Teslas I wished one thing distinctive/completely different, with a hatch (not essentially an SUV), quiet, snug, with one pedal driving mode (nice in cease/begin site visitors), effectively constructed with a extra cosseting/luxurious inside. Service intervals have been a consideration.

“The P4 LRDM fitted my standards. It’s a coupe SUV being a cross between an SUV and a sedan (hybrid SUV?), has a hatchback, frunk (albeit small), good floor clearance (166mm), one pedal driving mode, is opulent inside, is a really quiet, refined and highly effective car. Guarantee was vital and Polestar have a 5 yr car guarantee (eight yr/160,000km on battery). Service is each two years or 30,000km in comparison with some manufactures that required annual service/inspection.”

There you’ve gotten it. These are the opinions of 4 skilled EV drivers. Why would you commerce in your battery electrical car? In our vibrant electrical future, the paradigm has modified. I might admire your ideas within the feedback part under.