For several years, electric car customers in Germany have been able to take advantage of a government environmental bonus. A week before Christmas, the scheme was removed with just 3 days' notice. This led to an immediate decline in sales of "affordable" electric cars such as the Fiat 500e and Opel Corsa e.
Environmental bonus that disappeared
Since 2016, German electric car customers have been able to benefit from government support for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles. The money was transferred to the customers as a bonus after the cars had been paid for and delivered. Several dealers calculated the bonus when they put a price tag on the cars. The rates for 2023 were €4.500 in environmental bonus for cars under €40.000 and €3.000 for cars between €40.000 to €60.000. Cars over €60.000 gave no payouts.
BAFA (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle), which administered the support scheme, was forced to terminate the support scheme at short notice because there were no funds to continue - and a new state budget did not allow for the continuation of the scheme. One can therefore with good reason direct criticism at the politicians (SPD) - but what is really worthy of criticism in this case is the way in which BAFA discontinued the scheme. The liquidation took effect just 3 days after it was announced. Several tens of thousands of car customers who had ordered electric cars were affected.
The car manufacturers footed the bill
The liquidation was a slap in the face for those who had signed a contract but had not yet received their cars. No one imagined that the environmental bonus would disappear overnight. The consequences could have been serious had it not been for several car manufacturers choosing to cover the bonus for affected customers. Stellantis, Hyundai, KIA and Dacia are among the manufacturers that prevented customers who were waiting for cars from ending up in the dark.
Affects sales of small electric cars
In Germany, electric cars are far more expensive than cars that run on petrol or diesel. For example, you can buy Opel Corsa with petrol engine from €20, while prices for similarly equipped electric cars start at €300 without environmental bonus. For the same price you can get a well-equipped petrol engine Opel Grandland, which gives significantly more car for the money. In contrast to Norway, German car dealers still carry a full range of petrol and diesel-powered cars.
2024 Opel Corsa-e GS
Opel Corsa – an example
The Opel Corsa was the best-selling small car in Germany in 2023 with almost 54 cars, of which one in four ran on electricity, according to Stellantis. The Corsa-e then also ended up in 000th place among all electric cars sold.
In 2023, you could buy an Opel Corsa-e for just over €30 when the full "Umweltbonus" was deducted. in 000, the Corsa-e has, among other things, a new front - and in the GS version - an increase in power from 2024hp to 136hp, an increase in battery capacity from 156 kWh to 50 kWh and a range of up to 51 km. The price in Norway starts at NOK 405. If we add equipment such as an 344kW on-board charger, a technology package with adaptive LED lighting, navigation, a panoramic glass roof and additional paint, the price ends up at NOK 900 without winter tyres. In Germany, the same car costs NOK 11 (!).
It is worth remembering that if full value added tax were introduced on electric cars here at home, a well-equipped Opel Corsa-e would cost half a million kroner delivered with winter tyres.
It is thought-provoking that electric cars need government support in order for most people to be able to afford to buy them.
Opel Corsa 1,2 (petrol)
Facts
Figures based on registration statistics for new cars in Germany
Share of electric cars throughout 2023: 18,4%
Share of electric cars January 2024: 10,52%
Share of electric cars February 2024: 12,64%
Sales figures for two of the models which in 2023 received the full effect of the environmental bonus.
Month
Opel Corsa-e
Fiat 500-e
August 2023
3079
3193
September 2023
2175
1765
October 2023
899
1760
November 2023
1737
1730
December 2023 *)
2287
3001
January 2023
286
735
February
241
149
*) German environmental bonus for zero-emission vehicles ended on 17.12.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX
16.03.2023 Several newspapers report that the Fiat factory has now cut down to one shift at the Mirafiori factory due to failing sales of the Fiat 500e. According to Stellantis, this is due to the loss of support schemes for electric cars.
If you are going to buy an older electric car, it is of great importance to know how much the batteries have lost. If you are unlucky, you can end up with the "cat in the bag" without being successful in some instances. No one is required to disclose the health of the batteries. You have to find out for yourself.
Much to gain from checking battery health
When the first electric cars arrived, many were skeptical about the lifespan of the batteries. Therefore, an extended warranty was given. Everyone knows that batteries lose weight over time, but no one can predict exactly how much. By comparing 8-10 year old cars of the same model and year, you see clear variations. As the batteries gradually wear down over several years, it can be easy to forget to check the batteries before the warranty expires. And for those of you who are looking for a good electric car from an older vintage: Of course you should check the battery's health before signing a contract!
Let's go back to 2015
Then ordinary people could buy full-fledged electric cars - cars that could be used on longer journeys and that looked like real cars. The Nissan Leaf was already well established when it was joined by the Volkswagen e-Golf, BMW i3 and KIA Soul. Today, 8 years later, we can state that the cars have withstood the test of time well, both technically and visually. They are good options for first-time buyers and as the family's number 2 or 3 car.
KIA Soul EV
KIA SoulOn the road with the KIA Soul
Watch out for bullshit!
It was a breath of fresh air on the electric car market with its tough, youthful design and – for its time – "large" battery pack with more capacity than the competition. Net 27 kwh and 30,5 kwh gross. From 2018, the net capacity increased to 30 kwh. KIA gave a 7-year guarantee of at least 70% battery capacity. Several owners have reported large capacity losses, so if you own a KIA Soul, you should check the batteries before the warranty expires. The remaining capacity can be read via the car's OBD2 connector, or have it checked at any workshop.
Prices
The 2015 KIA Soul is offered today for between NOK 80-120. Stated range is 000 km (NEDC).
Find battery health
The remaining battery capacity can be easily read via the OBD2 connector which you will find under the cover on the lower left of the dashboard. An OBD2 dongle costs only a few hundred Swedish kroner and can be purchased online. Make sure it supports the CAN protocol and fits your phone (Android or Iphone). With the dongle in the socket, you can connect via Bluetooth with apps such as "SoulSpy" or "Torque". Go to "Vehicle" data. The field is called SOH (State of Health) and shows the remaining battery capacity in percentage.
If the seller is a car dealer with a workshop, ask them to check the SOH, regardless of whether the seller tries to convince you that it is not right or necessary. It only takes 5 minutes. If you are going to buy from a private person, it is not as easy to fumble with an OBD2 dongle and app, if you cannot do it together with the seller. If you cannot read the status, you must try to calculate the range based on remaining km and remaining charge. It is the only basis for documenting that the batteries are relatively intact. You have to trust the numbers - not what the salesperson tells you.
Sales picture. 49km over 13/18 dashes reveals either an uneconomical driving style or a bad battery. As a buyer, you must assume that it is the latter.
Nissan Leaf
Battery capacity and condition (dotted line at outer edge)2015 Nissan Leaf
Ordinary people's turn!
In contrast to today's government, Nissan understood early on what this term meant, when they were the first car manufacturer to make full-fledged electric cars for most people. The Nissan Leaf has proven to last for many years and is a very safe used car purchase. On cars between 2013 and 2015, the battery pack is 22 kwh net - 24 kwh gross. with a stated range of 199 km (NEDC). From 2016, the Leaf could be delivered with batteries of 28 kwh net - 30 kwh gross. Nissan only gave a 5 year/100 km warranty on the first battery packs. Extended warranty of 000 years 8% was introduced for battery packs from 70 kwh and above.
Prices
The 2014 Nissan Leaf is offered for between NOK 70-90 (source: Finn.no), and 000 models for between NOK 2015-60. I would strongly recommend ditching these early models and going for a 120 or 000 model year with 2016 kwh batteries. There are cars at the same price as the ones mentioned above (from NOK 2017-30) - perhaps with higher mileage and not as pretty - but still a better buy due to better range and battery warranty.
Find battery health
Nissan has an exemplary system for showing the remaining battery capacity on the instruments. On the scale above the charge, the remaining battery capacity is shown in the outermost arc. 12 lines mean that the battery's capacity is between 100% and 85%. At 9 bars, the battery is below 70%. Nissan's warranty is triggered if the number of dashes falls below 10 during the warranty period.
BMW i3
The BNW i3 is also usable with a short range
The design and choice of materials place the BMW i3 in a class above the KIA Soul and Nissan Leaf. In terms of size, it is smaller than the other two with 4 seats and 3 side doors. Original battery capacity was 18,8 kwh net - 21,6 kwh gross. From model year 2017, the BMW i3 had its battery capacity increased to 27,2 kwh net - 33,0 kwh gross. BMW's battery warranty is 8 years for at least 70% remaining capacity.
Prices
BMW is also in a different class in terms of price. Both model year 2014 and 2015 are in a price range just below NOK 100 to 000 (source: Finn.no). Be aware that the BMWs are also more expensive to maintain. According to the manufacturer, the batteries in the i140 should not be damaged by being constantly fully charged with the charger connected. The remaining battery capacity can be checked from the dashboard.
Find battery health
There is a service function via the dashboard where you can read the remaining battery capacity. The video clip below shows this in an excellent way. The trick is that you must first retrieve the car's ID number, add up the last 5 digits and use this sum as an access code to unlock the service function. Information about the remaining battery capacity in kWh can be found under "Tank/Battery". It must be net capacity that is displayed.
If you are in a position to buy, it might be nice to have done the test on another i3 before you approach the seller. Is the seller private, maybe you can do it together? If you buy from a brand dealer, they will know the function - and maybe talk you out of checking. Anyway, since the function exists and can be performed without doing any physical intervention, you should verify the number.
Markus Klemm – How to Find Your BMW i3 Battery Capacity
Volkswagen e Up!
Volkswagen e-Up! is a nice car for daily errands (brochure image).Sales picture showing good range in summer conditions.
The little brother of e-Golf
10 years ago, several car manufacturers planned to offer electric cars as variants of regular production models. The Volkswagen e-Golf and e-Up were electric variants of fossil car models. The E-Golf appears to be a class above the Nissan Leaf and KIA Soul. The net battery capacity was 20,5 kwh - 24.2 kwh gross - until 2017 when the e-Golf had its battery capacity increased to 32,0 kwh net - 35,8 kwh gross. Instead of the very earliest year models of the e-Golf, I recommend the Volkswagen e-Up, which is a 4-seater with roughly the same size and range as the BMW i3. The cars are produced in Bratislava and maintain good quality. Early editions of the e-Up had a battery capacity of 16,8 kwh net (18,7 kwh gross). Being a smaller and simpler car, it could be cheaper to maintain than the e-Golf and in a format better suited to short ranges. Volkswagen's battery warranty is 8 years for at least 70% capacity. Normal range is just over 100 km in winter and 130-140 km in summer.
For model year 2015, prices are NOK 60-90.
Find battery health
The Volkswagen e-Up has an OBD2 connector, but I don't know what measurements and calculations need to be done to arrive at the remaining battery capacity - if it is even possible? The Austrian company Aviloo offers a solution where you plug a device into the OBD2 connector, charge to 100%, drive down to 10%, charge fully again and return the box for analysis. This is not something that can be done in one fell swoop.
If you are in a buying position, you are dependent on trusting what the instruments tell you about the remaining charge and km estimated on the basis of previous driving. E-up does well 100 km on winter roads. Many sellers fail to show this in the pictures or can show an acceptable range when viewing. If the instruments show a poor range, it may be due to uneconomical driving or a bad battery. As a buyer, you must assume the latter.
Bad battery gives "Cat-in-the-bag"
When buying, you can never trust the seller's information about real range. These figures depend on so many different conditions that they cannot be verified. Before you buy an older electric car with a – by today's standard – small battery pack, you should make sure that it can supply usable electricity for a few more years. To put it a little more bluntly, so can you risk ending up with a car with a real range of 50 km without the possibility of canceling the purchase - without a safety net. The car works - the batteries have died - that's normal. Did the seller promise you something else? Enjoy leather seats and a premium music system!
"The last idiot has not yet been born"
If the seller cannot provide figures showing remaining battery capacity, he or she must at least be able to show a decent estimated range based on previous driving. Unfortunately, many retailers seem to hold their cards close to their chests. Of course, they know the condition of the battery, but try to focus on other, superficial subtleties. I have browsed hundreds of ads, and am amazed to see dealer ads that neither tell about the real range nor the condition of the batteries.
A sales image that makes it possible to calculate the real range when the temperature is 2,5 degrees. 80km at 80% gives approx. 100 km range.
Battery capacity based on charge
One test you can do yourself to test the battery's capacity is to compare what the charging station have supplied electricity against what knowing says it has received. For example, if you charge from 10% to 60% on a battery of 30 kwh net, the charging station should have given you 15 kwh plus what is lost in charge loss. If you charge from a wall box with a T2 cable, as much as 5-10% can be lost on the road in the form of heat. Since we do not know the exact loss of charge, this method can never be very accurate, but carried out over a longer period of time - on the same car and wall charger - it can reveal a pattern.
Battery health – the most important characteristic of used electric cars
Battery health is undoubtedly a 2015 model year's most important characteristic, both because of the cars' market value and the fact that lost range can make the car almost useless. Car buyers without technical insight into electric cars can easily end up with the "cat in the bag" without the opportunity to advertise. It is a fact that all batteries deteriorate over time, but not everyone realizes how much. Based on a search among 7 and 8 year old Nissan Leafs, I find that normal annual battery loss is between 1,7 - 2,5%. When I look at cars that are 9-10 years old, the variations are greater. One in three cars has had a greater average loss than 3% per year. Do batteries lose more weight as they age? Was the quality of 2012-2013 model year cars worse than 2014-2015?
Factors affecting battery health
High number of charges due to high mileage.
The batteries have been fully charged for a long time.
Extensive use of fast charging.
The batteries have been exposed to heat, for example during highway driving and fast charging in hot weather. The cars in the review have primitive systems for regulating the temperature of the batteries.
The car has been parked outdoors in cold areas.
The batteries have run out of power.
Manufacturing defects or damage to battery cells.
Shouldn't battery health be as mandatory as mileage when selling used electric cars?
See
KIA SoulNissan Leaf as a used carBMW i3Buying a used car without technical knowledgeDo electric cars lose more in value?
NIO is the only supplier of battery rental with replaceable batteries
You buy one NIO you can choose between owning or renting batteries. Currently, this is the only car manufacturer that offers battery rental. Renault ended the scheme in 2021. Leie never took off very well in Norway.
Should be able to change batteries
Renault Zoe and Kangoo ZE were electric car pioneers. When Zoe appeared in 2012, there was not much experience with how long the batteries would last. Evil tongues said that when the batteries were exhausted, the only thing to do was scrap the car. Renault offered battery rental to assure customers that they would never have to worry about just that. Another point was to be able to offer upgraded batteries with better range - when the time came. But when Renault came out with a 41 kwh battery it was not practically possible for owners of cars with a 22 kwh battery to switch. Thus, one of the advantages of renting batteries fell away.
NIO changes the battery in 5 minutes
Changing the battery on an electric car normally takes a full working day - maybe more. When the Møller chain had to change the battery boxes on its hybrid cars, the cars had to be in the workshop for 3-4 days. Tesla considered for a while making arrangements for exchangeable batteries but decided against it. Chinese D were probably the first to offer replaceable batteries in their model Aeolus E70 when it came as a 2017 model. NIO is, in comparison, a completely new car brand. They change batteries in 5 minutes from their own "battery swap" stations - the first recently set up at Kjellstad on Lier outside Drammen. NIO owners can drive by to have their discharged battery replaced with a fully charged one.
Battery as a service
Battery replacement is reserved for NIO owners who leier batteries. It is a kind of subscription - Baas (Battery as a Service). The concept not only ensures that you save time on charging, but you always get a good battery - even when the car is 10 years old.
Renault Zoe ZE 40 (Photo: Tania Sohlman/Scanstockphoto.com)
Do you need to change the battery?
Renault justified its termination of battery rental by saying that it was not necessary. There were practically no cars that needed a new battery. Tesla is experiencing the same thing – rightly so after a period of production errors. In any case, the batteries will gradually lose capacity after many charges, but that can be accepted with a car that is starting to age. Although there is currently no exact answer, since few modern electric cars have managed to be over 10 years old.
The problem with the oldest electric cars today is not that the batteries have run out of capacity, but that the original batteries had too little capacity. Early models such as the BMW i3, Mercedes B Electric, Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen e-Golf with a range of around 160 km do not keep up with today's electric cars. However, the cars could have been given a new lease of life if it were possible to upgrade the batteries with more powerful battery packs.
The NIO ES8 can be purchased with or without a battery
Always the latest battery technology
The NIO ES8 can either be delivered with a 75 kwh battery or a 100 kwh battery. By renting batteries, you can change your subscription during the life of the car. If you don't need 100 kwh, you can downgrade to 75 for lower rent. The biggest advantage of NIO's scheme is that you can upgrade to newer battery technology. In quarter 4 (2022) NIO has said that they will come with a solid state battery of 150 kwh. Dongfeng E70 was launched with solid state batteries earlier this year, so there is every reason to have faith in NIO's plans. What is impressive is that cars with "old" battery packs should be able to upgrade to solid state - for now, a promise made for the sedan version ET7.
Profitability
If we look at it soberly, few electric cars will need to change the battery pack more than once during a lifetime of 15-20 years - most will get by with none. We take NIO ES8 Signature as an example, the following prices are available:
Car only: 609
Rental of battery 75 kwh: 1399 per month
Rental of battery 100 kwh: 1999 per month
Buy battery 75 kwh: 90
Buy battery 100 kwh: 160
Work to replace battery: 0
Keep the car for 5 years
Car with 100 kwh battery:
Purchase price without battery: NOK 609
– with battery: NOK 769
Assuming a car purchase financed with 35% cash and a 5-year loan with a loan interest rate of 2,95% pa
Monthly cost upon purchase: NOK 9
Monthly rental expense: NOK 9 (car: NOK 232 + battery: NOK 7)
-75 kwh battery:
Purchase price without battery: NOK 609
– with battery: NOK 699.
Assuming a car purchase financed with 35% cash and a 5-year loan with a loan interest rate of 2,95% pa
Monthly cost upon purchase: NOK 8
Monthly rental expense: NOK 8 (car: NOK 632 + battery: NOK 7)
The monthly sums are about the same. Profitability here is determined by what the sale/trade-in price will end up at. How will secondary market buyers value the battery rental scheme?
The Dongfeng E70 offers both replaceable batteries and – from this year – solid state battery technology. Not sold in Norway. Source: dongfeng.cn
Save instead of rent
After 5 years, the car will be paid off. Given that whoever chose to purchase the batteries, continue to spare corresponding rental amount to accommodate a battery change when the car is 15 years old. The savings will yield the following sums - given that the savings rate is 0,35% pa:
Savings for a 100 kwh battery:
10 years of savings with monthly payments of NOK 2 (equivalent to rent for a 000 kwh battery) will yield NOK 100. A 244 kwh battery costs NOK 278 today, but will probably cost quite a bit more in 100 years.
Savings for a 75 kwh battery:
10 years of savings with monthly payments of NOK 1 (equivalent to rent for a 400 kwh battery) will yield NOK 75. A 170 kwh battery currently costs NOK 994, but is expected to cost more in 75 years.
Noted in the margin
NIO's battery rental under the "BaaS" scheme consists of 2 free battery changes per month with 200 kwh of free electricity. Until recently, the first customers of the NIO ES8 received a pioneering package which included, among other things, 6 free battery changes per month. This has stimulated many to choose to rent rather than own.
The battery changes in the example are based on the fact that NIO can change the battery without an expensive workshop visit. For all other electric cars on the market, a battery change will take at least one day at a workshop - which we estimate at NOK 20 or more. This is in addition to the battery prices.
Even if you save for a possible battery replacement, many will find it unprofitable to carry out a battery replacement on a car that is, for example, 15 years old. The car will then very likely be worth less than the cost of switching. In this way, the owner can count the residual value of the car as lost. Seen from a life cycle perspective, this is a cost to take with you in favor of renting batteries.
Interior ambiance in NIO ET7
See
NIO House OsloCan the electric car benefits finance the electric car?Upgrade anxiety
Chip shortages and high demand are to blame for long delivery times on some new car models. Is it worth waiting for your dream car? Here are the moments you should keep in mind.
Delivery times of a year or more
If you are looking for a new family electric car, you have probably considered the Skoda Enyaq iV80X. It ticks relevant boxes such as: Range, space, four-wheel drive and trailer hitch. When we drove the Enyaq earlier this year, we concluded that it was among the best. This is a car we can really recommend. The downside is the delivery time. It is 12 months, more specifically Christmas to next year.
Great uncertainty
The fact that the delivery time depends on subcontractors creates uncertainty. Another factor that makes the delivery time uncertain is that the factory may favor certain models at the expense of others. This can happen while you wait. As far as Skoda is concerned, it may also happen that the parent company – the Volkswagen Group – chooses to prioritize other brands within the same group. The uncertainty can go both ways. If the manufacturer wants to prioritize your car, the delivery time may be shorter than estimated.
When the queue suddenly disappears
We've seen it before. Following the launches of models such as the Opel Ampera-e, Hyundai Kona and Tesla Model 3, long delivery times occurred due to high demand. It was the production of the battery packs that was the official cause. Then a strange queuing phenomenon arose. Many had been on a waiting list for over a year to get their new car. At the same time as they received their cars, brand new customers could have cars delivered almost the same day they signed the contract. The phenomenon can perhaps be explained by the fact that production manages to "run in" when the shortage is resolved. Besides, new, better models are constantly appearing that attract new customers.
BYD Tang – full-size SUV with short delivery time
Like a pyramid scheme
When a reputable car manufacturer announces the upcoming launch of a new car with a long range, plenty of space and four-wheel drive, there can be a lot to gain from pre-ordering before seeing the car. If you wait until the car is available for a test drive and has received rave reviews in the press, the orders pile up. The first to order will benefit from that. The car they receive will be able to be resold without loss of value in the first year. Those last in the order queue risk becoming losers.
What can be lost by waiting?
We should not forget that a purchase contract is a right - a place in the queue to buy a coveted car. But it is also a "hostage situation". A lot can happen in a year. These are turbulent times. Anyone can lose their income base, become ill, experience a break-up or change in their family situation such that they no longer need the car that they have signed a contract for.
But let's focus on the financial side. If the delivery time extends beyond the turn of the year to 2023, the politicians will probably have decided to introduce taxes on electric cars – initially value added tax. If you depend on selling the old car, it can present problems, especially when you don't know when the new car will arrive. It can also be difficult for the car dealer to give a trade-in price that will be binding in one year. If you are forced to sell quickly, you can lose tens of thousands of kroner. One solution many choose is to sell the car early and rent a car while you wait. Several companies have specialized in this. In any case, it represents an additional cost.
Include delivery time in the assessment!
We mentioned that the Skoda Enyaq iV80X ticks relevant boxes such as: Range, space, four-wheel drive and trailer hitch. Perhaps one should also add delivery time as a property? If we therefore add delivery time as a fifth requirement, the Skoda Enyaq iV80X ticks 4 out of 5 boxes. Which other models tick 4 out of 5 boxes – given that the boxes are equal and you can do without one?
New cars that can be delivered now
We have carried out a search on Finn.no for new and "used" cars with negligible mileage for sale from brand dealers. Be aware that parallel-imported cars may have different warranty conditions than Norwegian cars. It is not certain that the dealer states that the car is parallel-imported. Also make sure that you get cars with the "correct" battery pack and equipment - that is, of the same type that is brought in via normal imports. Heat exchangers and preheating of battery packs do not have to be standard in all markets.
Modell
Antall
Rekkevidde *)
Plass
4WD
Hengerfeste **)
Levering ***)
BYD Tang
18
-
X
X
X
X
Jaguar I-Pace
24
-
X
X
X
X
Fiat 500
58
-
-
-
-
X
Hyundai Kona 64kwh
58
X
-
-
-
X
Hyundai e-Niro 64kwh
58
X
X
-
X
X
KIA Soul 64kwh
58
X
-
-
-
X
Maxus Euniq
17
-
X
-
-
X
Nissan Leaf
38
-
-
-
-
X
Peugeot e2008
8
-
X
-
X
X
Skoda Enyaq iV80
8
X
X
-
X
X
Tesla Model 3 SR
18
-
-
-
X
X
Tesla Model 3 LR
20
X
-
X
X
X
Xpeng G3
4
-
X
-
-
X
*) Range requirement – over 500 km in summer driving based on this article published in NAF.no
**) Trailer attachment requirements – be able to tow a trailer of at least 750 kg
***) Cars in stock for sale at Finn.no. If there are cars in stock on Finn.no, there are probably more in the dealer network. We have also searched for "ready-built" cars Tesla.com.
Jaguar I-Pace - a model not on the list.KIA Niro – tall compact car
If we count the number of ticked boxes, we see that BYD Tang, Jaguar I-Pace, KIA Niro, Skoda Enyaq iv80 and Tesla 3 LR tick 4 out of 5 boxes. These competitors have short delivery times, but BYD and Jaguar do not meet the range requirement – the KIA Niro and Skoda Enyaq iV80 do not have 4-wheel drive and the Tesla 3 LR has too little space to be called a family car. The compact cars KIA Soul and Hyundai Kona have good ranges, but can only tow feather-light trailers. These models have been on the market for a long time, and have a relatively short delivery time as many are in stock or can be ordered from the boats.
High-built compact car. Peugeot 2008.Compact family car. Hyundai Kona.
Other models
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX
We mentioned that the delivery time for the Skoda Enyaq iV80X is 12 months. This is what Skoda dealers are quoting right now. Volkswagen states the delivery time for the ID.4 GTX to be 5 months - i.e. by the summer holidays 2022. However, the ID.4 GTX is technically identical to the Enyaq iV80X. The two models use the same data chips and should thus have had equally long delivery times. Since several models are now increasing their delivery times, it is not unexpected if Volkswagen is forced to reconsider its delivery times.
Chinese cars
It seems that Chinese models are not as badly affected by the supply shortage of data chips as Western models. This applies to models such as BYD Tang, Maxus Euniq, Polestar 2 and Xpeng G3. Many people are currently skeptical about buying Chinese car brands. The ongoing supply crisis for Western car brands may make more people choose Chinese.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
Tesla has developed a large production facility in Shanghai, China, which from this summer will supply cars to Norway. They have stated that they have recently changed the software so that it can use other data chips - probably supplied by Chinese subcontractors. Tesla has deliveries to Norway every quarter. One can only hope that the cars with new chips and new software do not have children's diseases when they arrive in Norway. Tesla has simple configurations - few options - which makes it easy to choose cars from stock or fleet.
Volkswagen ID.4Volkswagen ID.4
Xpeng G3 (photo: Jonny Bunæs)
How to deal with the delivery time
Sitting on the fence?
One way to deal with the delivery time is not to sign a contract until the queue is gone. It sounds like wishful thinking, but in several previous cases it has been shown that queues disappear quickly. When the Tesla 3 was launched, the delivery time was approximately 9 months. If you waited until "everyone" had received, you could get a car with a short delivery time - several cars were even in stock from buyers who had withdrawn. You don't get the car faster than others by sitting on the fence, but you get it almost as quickly - and you don't have to make any long-term commitments.
Sell your old car in good time!
Not all car dealers dare to give a trade-in price one year in advance. If you are dependent on selling the old car even before you get the new one - for example due to a parking situation or cash flow - it pays to sell the car well before the new one arrives. It often takes several weeks to sell a car. If you are forced into a quick sale, drop the price. You can lose several tens of thousands on that. Be aware that professional buyers know how to take advantage of "must sell" situations. In the time from when the old car is delivered until the new car arrives, you can rent a car. There are several companies that specialize in short-term rental to private individuals. Here, the dealer may have solutions, for example by accepting trade-in cars at once and arranging a rental car during the waiting period.
Be in dialogue with the dealer!
While you are waiting for a new car, you should be in constant contact with the dealer. Dealers with good routines and systems ensure that customers are kept informed on an ongoing basis. If not, you should check the status with your contact person via email or phone at least a couple of times during the waiting period. If your salesperson has left the company, you may have to find a new contact person yourself. There are examples of car buyers having delayed delivery due to confusion in the dealer's ranks.
Electric cars are going to dominate the car market in the same way that color TVs took over our living rooms. But be aware that electric cars are not ideal for everyone. Not yet. The survey below maps your car needs and gives an indication of which energy source is most suitable for you. Financial conditions have not been taken into account.
Hybrid car used as fossil car
As you know, hybrid cars have a significant tax advantage compared to petrol and diesel cars. The survey assesses only appropriateness. Without access to own chargers, the electric car advantage of hybrid cars cannot be fully exploited. We have given the go-ahead for that. If the hybrid car's advantages cannot be exploited – that is, it is used just like a fossil car – the result will go in favor of the fossil car so as not to create the impression that a hybrid car is more appropriate. Then any other reasons must weigh more heavily, such as purchase price or model selection.
Electric car and fossil car on long journeys
Electric cars are OK on long journeys if you have a positive attitude and take advantage of the necessary breaks to charge the batteries. That's something experienced electric car owners know. Although electric cars are suitable for long-distance driving, many will still find that fossil-fuel cars are more appropriate if you have to drive over mountain passes and deserted stretches. We have rewarded the fossil-fuel cars for that. Even if your need is exclusively for long journeys, you can therefore drive an electric car with a long range, but the test results will then favor a fossil car.
Two results
The results consist of two parts – total demand and driving between home and workplace. Trouble-free driving to and from work is an absolute requirement when choosing a car. In that context, it doesn't really matter how many days a week you have to go to work, because the trips are just as necessary regardless of whether you meet one day a week or five.
The Volkswagen ID.4 electric car has already managed to become a bestseller and will become many families' next car.
Visually, all Type 1 Nissan Leafs look the same. But under the shell, many changes have been made. If you're going to buy a used Leaf, you need to know what's under the hood, otherwise you could end up with a worthless car.
Wears its age well
Several cars from the first year of production have low mileage and look like new cars both outside and inside. Used car sellers know how to exploit this. They defend the high price by pointing to the car's general condition and mileage. "Owned by old lady...", and so on. As a car buyer, you must put the electric car features before all other features. It doesn't help that the car looks pretty if it can't be used for what it was designed for.
Although the Nissan Leaf 1 was gradually improved, two upgrades in particular are worth noting. The first occurred in mid-2013, the second in mid-2015.
The 2013 upgrade
According to Nissan, as many as 100 different big and small changes were made. By making the car lighter, more aerodynamic and improving regenerative braking energy, the range could be extended from 175 to 199 km NEDC. A more modern heat pump (optional) stole less electricity. By moving the on-board charger from the boot to the engine compartment, the boot was increased from 330 liters to 370 litres. The cars were better braced and thus behaved better on the road. The warranty period on the batteries was increased from 5 to 8 years. Furthermore, the car's on-board charger could take 6,6 kW – not just 3,6 kW – and you could use Type 2 cable. Let's also take into account that you could now get a black interior and leather seats on the Tekna edition.
The cars for Norway were now brought in from Sunderland instead of Japan.
The 2015 upgrade
The biggest news was that customers could now choose a new and long-awaited battery pack of 30 kwh. Almost everyone chose this, but the old 24 kwh battery pack was still in production. Cars with 30 kwh batteries were given a stated range of 250 km NEDC. Other improvements were that you could order cars with DAB radio and the NissanConnect infotainment system that can display available charging stations in real time.
Range
This is the Nissan Leaf type 1's Achilles heel. This is actually the only reason why many people turn their backs on the model. Unfortunately, it is possible to be thoroughly deceived on this point. Here are the ranges you can count on:
Cars before the 2013 upgrade
Official range is given in NEDC. It is a theoretical range that is almost impossible to reproduce under normal driving conditions. According to NEDC, the range is 175 km. Based on an unofficial – but fairly reliable conversion factor, the WLTP range will be approximately 142 km. That is the maximum you and I can expect to get out of a new battery. Practical range was 120-130 km in summer and 80-90 km in winter. We say "was" because the range decreases with age and usage patterns.
Cars with 24 kwh battery after the 2013 upgrade
The NEDC range was stated at 199 km. Some dealers still state this as the only range figure. Based on a conversion factor, the corresponding WLTP range will end up at approximately 156 km. Practical range is 120-140 km in summer.
Cars with 30 kwh battery
Stated range according to the factory is 250 km. Converted to WLTP, it corresponds to approximately 196 km. Practical range in summer is 140-190 km.
Battery capacity and condition (dotted line at outer edge)
Battery life
The Nissan Leaf is equipped with a fantastic function where you can read the state of the battery directly from the instruments. Actually, it's probably a voltmeter. It is marked as a dashed line to the left of the battery's capacity. There are 12 lines in total. Leaf owners indicate the battery's condition by telling the number of bars remaining. The cars in our selection are from 2011 to 2016. In this selection, it is quite normal for the cars to have lost one or two stripes. It is so normal that many dealers do not mention it, nor show a picture of the dashboard. If you don't know about this feature, you could be fooled. 10 dashes out of 12 on a 2013 model is perfectly normal - the dealer can't be blamed - but you might have preferred a car with 12 dashes, had you known this beforehand.
Example from a Leaf with greatly reduced battery capacity with only 5 out of 12 lines.
The range is reduced for each streak that disappears
Many owners choose to sell their cars when the battery "loses a streak". In the sales advertisement, they may write that they need better range. If you are considering buying a Leaf, you should calculate the range based on the battery having a line less than today. The first line corresponds to 15%, while subsequent lines each correspond to 7,7%. The range is reduced accordingly. Nissan's battery warranty comes into force if the car has lost more than 3 lines within 8 years. This corresponds to a remaining capacity of 61,9%. Up to 3 lines - which therefore does not trigger any warranty claim - corresponds to 69,6%. Let's go back to practical range numbers for those the very first The Leafs – all within normal capacity loss:
12/12 lines: 120-130 km summer, 80-90 winter.
11/12 lines: 102-110 km summer, 68-65 winter.
10/12 lines: 92-100 km summer, 61-69 winter.
9/12 lines: 83-90 km summer, 55-62 winter.
If you end up below 9 lines, it can be problematic to use the car in winter.
Import cars
Since 2012, several dealers have imported cars from the US and other European countries to meet the high demand for electric cars. Most of the imported cars are manufactured in the USA. These lack equipment that "Norwegian" cars have, including heated seats and heated steering wheel. Nor can they be connected to "Carwings", where the owner can remotely control pre-heating and more. In addition, the navigation system lacks European maps. It must be up to the individual to assess how important these features are on a nearly 10-year-old used car. The most serious thing is that the imported cars are among the worst in terms of loss of battery capacity. Some of the imported cars are sold with halved capacity, which makes the car unusable for the vast majority.
2015 Nissan Leaf
Check the chassis number (VIN)
You need to check the car's chassis number to determine the country of manufacture. You can find the chassis number or VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) most easily online by using the Norwegian Motor Vehicle Inspection Authority's lookup option. Enter the car's registration number on the link below and find the 17-digit number under the page marked "Registration data".
If the first character of the chassis number is "J" and character number 11 is a number, for example "0", the car is manufactured in Japan. Ordinary imports before 01.07.2013 took place from Japan. Cars produced in the USA were imported in parallel. USA-produced cars before 01.07.2013/11/1 may also have "J" as the first character in the chassis number, but character number 01.07.2013 is then "T". Then the car is manufactured in Tennessee. Cars with "XNUMX" as the first character are also produced in the USA. Cars from Sunderland, England, have "S" as the first character. This has been a normal import after XNUMX.
Few errors and problems
In general, there are few problems on the Nissan Leaf. Many report problem-free car maintenance for several years. Problems with the starter battery discharging are a common problem. Wear and tear related to wheel suspension and chassis seems to be on par with other cars, with replacements on cars that have passed well over 100. As long as the car is treated well, high km is not a big problem. A car with close to 000 on the odometer with 100/000 dashes can be just as good as a grandmother's car with extremely low km, stood for several years with a constant 12% on the batteries.
Comfortable seats and interior.
Prices
The prices are based on "on the route" prices from Finn.no.
2016 Nissan Leaf 30 kwh
Km 0-49: NOK 999 (129 cars)
Km 50-000: NOK 99 (999 cars)
2016 Nissan Leaf 24 kwh (for comparison)
Km 0-49: NOK 999 (115 cars)
Km 50-000: NOK 99 (999 cars)
2015 Nissan Leaf 24 kwh
Km 0-49: NOK 999 (99 cars)
Km 50-000: NOK 99 (999 cars)
Km 100-000: NOK 149 (999 cars)
2014 Nissan Leaf
Km 0-49: NOK 999 (90 cars)
Km 50-000: NOK 99 (999 cars)
Km 100-000: NOK 149 (999 cars)
2013 Nissan Leaf (both Series 1 and Series 2 cars)
Km 50-000: NOK 99 (999 cars)
Km 99-999: NOK 149 (999 cars)
2011/2012 Nissan Leaf
Km 50-000: NOK 99 (999 cars)
Km 100-000: NOK 149999 (49 cars)
Here you can see that prices fall by NOK 10 per year. 000 models with 2016 kwh batteries are understandably more expensive than equivalent cars with 30 kwh. These are undoubtedly the best in the selection and our clear choice. Here you get a lot of electric cars and simple car maintenance for the money. Our second choice is one of the cars after the 24 upgrade.
Tesla – the only car brand without car salesmen but with defects in the ordering system
Buying a car is a matter of trust. This also applies when everything is arranged online.
Buying a car at Tesla looks different than at other car dealerships, for better or for worse. In the Tesla premises you meet supervisors, not sellers. You arrange the order yourself online. The configuration is simple. Color? Drivetrain? Black or white seats? 19-inch rims? Trailer hitch? Winter tires? No symbolic discounts, no extras and no sales commission. The price is displayed on the screen.
No trade-in cars, please!
Tesla does not accept trade-in cars. Instead, one can post pictures of their vehicle for professional buyers. The solution lacks the option to provide additional information, such as for example that the car has just been in for a major service, or has new winter tyres. Tesla promises that you will receive an offer within 24 hours. We didn't get any offers for our 4-year-old trade-in car. Fortunately, we were able to sell it quickly on Finn.no at the assumed buyer's price. If the new car arrives before the old one has been sold, many may have problems with providing equity. Buyers know how to exploit this.
Don't trust Tesla's trade-in solution. Sell the car yourself!
Funding and registration worked well
Both parts are carried out on the providers' own websites. We used DnB, and they delivered offers quickly. Vegvesen.no has become a super solution for arranging everything to do with the authorities. Both services are well suited for online shopping. Tesla's ordering system signed off by ticking off both financing and registration as "completed" on the list of things that must be done in the ordering process. Good!
The list that just disappeared
Our last unchecked item on the list was trade-in car. Since we sold the trade-in car ourselves, we ticked "no trade-in car". Then the point list disappeared from the screen! We could no longer see what had been done. The point list was replaced by a general information document. The same information was sent in repeated messages on the mobile with the message that everything had to be carried out as soon as possible. Had we to do old again? We felt thrown into no man's land.
Had Tesla lost our data? Had we pressed the wrong key? Had Tesla's website been hacked?
Amateur landing
In 2020, systems – such as Tesla's booking system – can automatically check payments, find out if a vehicle is registered and retrieve insurance information. The Norwegian service is adapted for integration with external systems. Customers should not need to be reminded about things that have already been done. Tesla has obviously chosen a shortcut to avoid developing software that integrates with Norwegian players. I have read that for a long time Ryanair offered a substandard booking system to save money. I suspect Tesla is following the same strategy.
You can cancel during the entire process
Should you get cold feet towards the end of your Tesla order, you can cancel the whole thing. The only thing you lose is the 1000 kroner you were charged for when ordering. You can actually withdraw within 10 days after the car has been collected. Legally speaking, the Tesla sale may be considered an online purchase - and must comply with the legislation for this, with a cooling-off period and right of return.
Conclusion
Currently, car buying online is not very widespread. This limits the possibilities for comparing services between different actors. We have therefore compared Tesla's "online shop" against normal person-based car sales. In the future, all cars will be sold online, but this requires reorganization and the development of new procedures and services. New brands such as Tesla and Polestar have the advantage that they started with "blank sheets". I suspect that Tesla chose online sales only to save costs, not to give customers a better experience. System-based services must, like personal service, create trust through the purchase process. Tesla's system for ordering and buying a car starts promisingly, but fails seriously in the final phase. At no point in the process should the customers feel that the sales company has lost their data. For us, the solution was to contact a supervisor at Tesla. The personal service worked excellently at Tesla throughout.
Vegvesen.no and DnB have very good online solutions. They open up opportunities for more actors to sell cars online. Like, for example, Polestar. Hope their solution is better than Tesla's.
See
Tesla against "smoke"Tesla 3 Long RangeAre electric cars losing more weight?Cooling the batteries
