Published
08/01/2026 às 14:53
High replacement costs, technical barriers, and disproportionate prices are reshaping the debate on maintenance, sustainability, and the used parts market.
A structural shift in the electric car market has gained prominence in recent years and has begun to worry consumers, insurance companies, and specialized repair shops.
Although these vehicles became popular starting from 2020 with the promise of low maintenanceRecent technical data shows that spare batteries and motors They can cost more than the car itself.
This scenario exposes a setback in the right to redressThis increases the financial risk for consumers and compromises some of the environmental gains associated with electrification.
Replacement costs exceed the value of the vehicle.
According to surveys by EV Clinic, released between 2022 and 2024, the replacement of a traction battery may vary from from 4 to over 30 eurosdepending on brand, model, and capacity.
As a result, the fear of replacing the battery outside of warranty keeps buyers away from the used car market.
In so many cases, The repair costs exceed the vehicle’s residual value.This completely changes the cost-benefit logic of electric cars.
In the case of MG4 Luxuryfor example, the battery of 64 kWh costs about 429 euros per kWh, overtaking 27 thousand euros.
This value represents approximately 83% of the price of a new car, according to consolidated data up to 2024.
Still, the cost is close to that of premium models, such as the BMW i4 eDrive40, which highlights a significant distortion.
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Popular models tend to have the highest prices.
The discrepancy becomes even more evident in entry-level cars.
According to analyses published between 2023 and 2024 by EV Clinic and the blog The beggar’s gaze, the battery of Dacia spring with 27 kWhexceeds 9,6 thousand euros.
Now at Peugeot E-208the value exceeds 17,3 thousand euros, even with less capacity than mid-range models.
In contrast, batteries for more expensive vehicles have significantly lower costs.
The battery of the Tesla Model 3 with 57,5 kWhit costs around 8,4 thousand euroseven though it offers greater usable capacity.
No Polestar 2, the battery of 77 kWh comes to 13,5 thousand euros, a value lower than that of popular compact cars, even in analyses carried out in 2024.
Electric motors follow the same logic.
In addition to the batteries, electric motors They also present differences that are difficult to justify technically.
Although they are simpler and have fewer moving parts, their prices vary wildly between brands.
The front engine of Peugeot E-208For example, it costs almost five times more that the rear engine of Tesla Model 3 de 2024.
A similar situation occurs in accessible models.
The engine of Dacia spring, with just 65 cvit costs almost three times more that of Tesla.
Among rear-engine models, the one… Hyundai ioniq 5, according to the tables of 2023, comes to 7 thousand euroswhile the one of Mercedes Benz EQS It costs less than half.
The right to redress is regressing.
According to the EV Clinic, There is no technical justification. so that cheaper cars have more expensive parts.
Furthermore, manufacturers have begun to adopt barriers to independent repair, requiring proprietary software and exclusive tools.
A case reported in 2023 involved an owner of Hyundai Ioniq 5N, prevented from changing brake pads without purchasing software for 6 thousand euros.
This situation forces consumers to resort to official dealerships or highly specialized repair shops.
As a result, Insurance companies have started classifying electric cars as total losses. If you have any questions about the battery or motor, please ask.
Thus, nearly new vehicles end up being discarded after minor incidents.
Environmental impact and the contradiction of sustainability.
The manufacturing of an electric car involves greater initial environmental impact than that of a combustion engine car.
This impact, however, is only offset over the vehicle’s lifespan.
When repairs become unfeasible and the car is prematurely scrapped, the carbon footprint increases, instead of decreasing.
This scenario highlights a central contradiction of electrification.
Without accessible repairability, The electric car cannot fully deliver on its environmental promise..
Given this, the question remains: Without effective redress, is the current model of electric mobility truly sustainable in the long term?
