The story doesn't specifically mention that it was used, but definitely makes statements alluding to that.
If this is the norm for old, out-of-warranty Teslas (or any other expensive EV), what are owners supposed to do at the end of their EVs life? Will everyone just end up leasing? Will EV leases be replaced with EV-as-a-service?
Surely the trade-in value will plummet when there is so much risk involved in buying an old EV. Might there enough value in raw materials (batteries, motors, frame, panels) to make it feasible to hold on to an EV this long? Might the vehicle still be valuable enough to sell on a market of repurposed parts (batteries for energy storage, motors as generators for hydro/wind)? Will replacement/refurbished parts eventually become abundant and affordable enough that repairs as feasible as ICE vehicles?
I guess the point is on the exact amount of the "this long".
I may be wrong of course, but 8 years (and unknown KMs, but I don't think people make that many km oer year on EV's) don't seem to me that many, I would say that most modern "traditional" (gasoline or diesel) cars have an expected life of 15 years/300,000 kms or more (of course if cerefully maintained).
If this is the norm for old, out-of-warranty Teslas (or any other expensive EV), what are owners supposed to do at the end of their EVs life? Will everyone just end up leasing? Will EV leases be replaced with EV-as-a-service?
Surely the trade-in value will plummet when there is so much risk involved in buying an old EV. Might there enough value in raw materials (batteries, motors, frame, panels) to make it feasible to hold on to an EV this long? Might the vehicle still be valuable enough to sell on a market of repurposed parts (batteries for energy storage, motors as generators for hydro/wind)? Will replacement/refurbished parts eventually become abundant and affordable enough that repairs as feasible as ICE vehicles?