แรงหนุนจากราคาน้ำมันที่สูงขึ้นและคลื่นสัญญาเช่าที่กำลังจะหมดอายุ, the used electric vehicle market is experiencing robust growth.
While new EV sales have declined sharply due to the cancellation of the federal tax credit, the used market tells a very different story. According to Cox Automotive, used EV sales rose 12% year-over-year in the first quarter and jumped 17% from the previous quarter, showing strong momentum.
One major factor is the return of gasoline prices above $4 per gallon, which makes EVs more cost-effective to operate. อย่างไรก็ตาม, an even more critical factor lies on the supply side. As reported by the Financial Times, a large number of consumers who leased EVs in the early 2020s are now seeing those leases expire, flooding the market with hundreds of thousands of pre-owned EVs. In the first quarter alone, off-lease EVs accounted for 7.7% of all off-lease vehicles, a share expected to double to 15% by the end of the year.
The surge in supply has also pushed down prices for used EVs. The average price of a used EV currently stands at $34,821, roughly on par with the $33,487 average for a comparable gasoline-powered vehicle. This price parity has further boosted consumer demand, creating a virtuous cycle of supply and demand.
ในระยะสั้น, rising gas prices act as a catalyst, but the wave of expiring leases is the deeper structural factor driving the market. With prices approaching those of conventional cars and more options available, used EVs are increasingly becoming a practical choice for budget-conscious consumers.