The electric vehicle market is undergoing a profound transformation, with the December show that the penetration rate of electric vehicles will reach 40%. This figure means that the proportion of electric vehicles sold in the passenger car market will rise significantly. The number of sales of gasoline vehicles declined, with blue plates accounting for only 60% of total sales. This marks a shift in consumer buying behavior from traditional combustion vehicles to more environmentally friendly electric vehicles.
This shift is not uniform across all regions. The penetration rate of electric vehicles in first- and second-tier cities is relatively high, while in the western region, fuel vehicles still dominate. This regional difference has led to reflection on the cultural and economic factors behind the choice of car purchase.
Many consumers' reservations about EVs compared to their rise stem primarily from a lack of trust in their reliability, safety, and durability. Among them, the problem of batteries has become the focus of consumers' greatest concern. The cost of the battery is often more than 30% of the whole vehicle**, and the cost of later replacement can even be on par with the residual value of the whole vehicle.
For example, although the residual value of the first batch of Model 3 vehicles in the market is about 140,000 yuan, the cost of replacing the battery pack is as high as 120,000 yuan. This phenomenon has raised concerns among consumers about the instability of electric vehicles in the later stage.
Consumer concerns are not unfounded, especially for car buyers with rational thinking. They made a clear calculation and compared the cost of buying a car with the cost of using it. A medium-sized fuel vehicle is relatively low, while an electric vehicle of the same size requires a higher cost. Although electric vehicles can bring savings during use, the maintenance risks and insurance costs may be higher than those of gasoline vehicles. Especially for plug-in hybrid models, its fuel consumption of 5 liters per 100 kilometers is not necessarily more cost-effective than that of gasoline vehicles, especially at high speeds.
In this context, some consumers adhere to their own consumption principles, believing that electric vehicles are not qualified in terms of products. They conducted a rational analysis of the purchase and use of the car, emphasizing the trade-off between the cost of buying a car and the risk of maintenance in the later stage. This makes it a long-term evolutionary cycle for electric vehicles to truly enter the hearts of users.
Amid consumer concerns about electric vehicles, the product's warranty terms become a key point. Many users emphasize the true perfection of the warranty, not wanting to face some text routines, but looking forward to full support in case of problems. In addition, the stability of the battery system is also the focus of users' concerns. The stability of problems such as blisters, power feeding, and scratching must be improved, and only in this way will users let down their guard against electric vehicles.
Although electric vehicles have the characteristics of fast acceleration, smoother and quieter, for more consumers, ensuring reliability, stability and safety is the biggest premise. Only by upgrading on these foundations can electric vehicles be truly accepted by users.
In this process, enterprises need to devote themselves to improving the three-electric system and truly protecting the rights and interests of users. The real improvement of the warranty clause and the improvement of the stability of the battery system are the directions that enterprises need to pay attention to and improve. Only through these efforts will electric vehicles be able to survive in the market and gain the support of users.
Although the market for electric vehicles is growing, many people are forced to choose electric vehicles. Special policies such as purchase tax breaks and no-travel restrictions have made EVs more attractive to some consumers. But if these special policies are lifted, the appeal of electric vehicles could be greatly reduced. This raises the question of whether many people will still be willing to buy electric vehicles that require purchase tax and driving restrictions if these special policies are abolished
This also highlights that the growth rate of the electric vehicle market is based on value inequality. Although the penetration rate of electric vehicles is close to 40%, combustion engine vehicles still account for 60% of the market. This makes it necessary to think more holistically about the future of the EV market, rather than just being stimulated by special policies.
Finally, what has been overlooked for a long time is the performance of electric vehicles in the used car market. It is more difficult for electric vehicles to survive in the second-hand car market, and their residual value collapses even faster than that of gasoline vehicles. This may be related to the rapid update of EV technology and the emergence of new battery technology, which has led to the obsolescence of early EVs. In the future, the electric vehicle market needs to better solve the problems of the second-hand car market and increase the residual value of electric vehicles to better meet the needs of consumers.
The electric vehicle market is experiencing fierce competition and change. In this process, the quality of the product, the user experience and the adjustment of market policies will be the key factors that determine whether electric vehicles can gain a foothold in the market. To truly win consumer trust and market share, the EV industry needs to make more breakthroughs in technology, services and policies.