Top PRE 2020 EVs
Top 10 EVs by resale value per kWh
There are many "top lists" of electric cars, many focusing on price and range. This one focuses on UK resale value and is limited to cars that have been around for a while; it basically tells you how much battery you get for your buck while also factoring in efficiency.
Criteria
All the cars in this list are at least one year old.
The ratings are based on resale price and battery capacity and performance; the exact formula is:
(resale price / battery kWh) / (miles / kWh)
The prices are my estimates from AutoTrader, and the model years are around 2018-ish whenever possible.
The graph contains drag coefficient and car height but they are not factored in the score.
Winner
The absolute winner is the diminutive but reliable Mitsubishi i-MiEV. While it did not come cheap (around £30k new), it was launched in 2010, so today's resale prices place it squarely at the top. It proved so popular as a mass-market EV that both Citroën and Peugeot sold rebadged versions of it as the C-Zero and iOn, respectively. That being said, you are buying a ten-year-old car with technology to match, so it’s not a clear win.
The Renault ZOE and Nissan Leaf (pre-refresh) are very close behind. But consider that while most of the cars below them in the list come packed with tech like cameras, radars, and sensors, smartphone integration is the main thing that comes standard with the Zoe and Leaf. As for premium interior materials or ergonomics—don’t even think about it.
Losers
The BMW i3 is a puzzle. The 2018 refresh makes for a decent EV, but its price per kWh places it squarely between the I-PACE and Model X—territory that is totally out of its league.
The Tesla Model X is five years old now, and while undeniably a powerhouse ahead of its time, when put under the microscope, its score comes up as the lowest of the bunch.
The Mercedes EQC is a luxurious juggernaut, but the cold facts are that you could buy ten i-MiEVs for that price—and you can only go twice as far on a single charge. If, for that price, you could go, say, 500 miles in luxury, then the EQC might make sense. But that’s what’s in the cards with the EQXX, so it is best to wait for that.