There are many reasons why the used values for most electric cars (sharp devaluation isn’t limited to the Taycan by any means) have struggled.
For one, the ZEV mandate requiring manufacturers to sell more EVs has put pressure on prices when new (albeit often hidden using offers and incentives), while any used EVs manufacturers sell through their official schemes don’t count towards those targets.
There are also no tax breaks on offer for business or fleet buyers for used EVs- and, meanwhile, just over three years after the Taycan’s launch and with a facelift having just arrived, there’s a relative glut of ex-fleet and PCP examples arriving on the market.
Just as significantly, there’s still some scepticism about taking on a used electric car. Given the recent rate of EV progress, will it be as outdated as a BBC Master in a few years time? Will the battery life suddenly and dramatically degrade to the point that the car is unusable? Such concerns are common with new technology.
So with an increasing number of used EVs on the market, it felt like a good time to put the previously owned approach to the test – and, frankly, to get more time in a seriously good car. All of which is why I found myself at Porsche Reading to take collection of our new Sport Turismo.
Buy a car through Porsche’s official used scheme and you can enjoy the exact same handover process as a new model, complete with a cover being whisked off your shiny new (to you car in the dealership and an expert on hand to talk you through all the key features with a particular brief to explain some of the nuances of EV ownership for those new to them.
