EV depreciation explained
For most cars, depreciation is the single biggest cost — often more than energy, tax and insurance combined.
What drives depreciation
- Segment: small cars lose value faster in %; SUVs often hold better.
- Brand: premium and strong-resale brands keep more residual value; new brands lose faster.
- Mileage: more kilometres = lower residual.
- Age: steepest in the first 1–3 years.
For EVs
Residuals are harder to predict (tech jumps, battery perception). That’s exactly why leasing is often attractive — see Is leasing worth it?.
In Evident
We estimate the 3-year residual by segment and adjust by brand and mileage (see the methodology). The TCO calculator shows depreciation openly.
What our market data says about it
Since summer 2026 we collect, every week and ourselves, the prices used EVs are listed at in Germany — per model line the median of 20–40 fresh listings, with their median age and mileage (Market Radar). On the car pages of the covered model lines that figure sits under the value curve, marked ↺ “Market”.
Two things to keep in mind:
- Listings are asking prices, not transaction prices. What is finally paid sits below them — negotiation, days on the lot, dealer margin.
- We compare like with like. Our estimate is computed for exactly the listings’ median age, not a blanket three years. Where it says “Listings sit 40 % above our estimate”, it means: our residual approach is on the cautious side for that model line — buying used is dearer, and buying new loses less, than our figure assumes.
That is deliberate: an openly cautious estimate next to real market data beats a smooth curve with nothing behind it. Once our own residual model passes its release gates (status on model health), it replaces the segment estimate.
Continue with real numbers: Cheapest EVs by total cost · Filter all cars · Compare models