E-Auto kaufen? Jetzt der DÜMMSTE Zeitpunkt?

Summary

The video assesses whether rising used-EV prices make this a poor time to switch from a petrol car. Its conclusion is that not necessarily: the economics depend heavily on vehicle class, annual mileage, and access to charging.

Market context

• Used electric-car prices reportedly rose 18% in the first nine months of the year, while combustion-car prices fell.
• The presenter links used-EV demand to fuel prices. Demand rose when fuel became more expensive, fell during the May–June fuel discount, and increased again afterward. Purchase inquiries were up 27% in September.
• The presenter cautions that the new-car subsidy does not fully explain used-EV price movements. It applies to new cars, and the expectation that cheaper new cars would push used-EV prices down was contradicted by the observed trend.

Running-cost comparison

Using measured real-world consumption, including winter conditions and charging losses:

• At an assumed petrol price of €2 per litre—the stated 2026 average—the Mini cost about €13 per 100 km to fuel.
• A Tesla Model 3 cost about €2.84 per 100 km in the presenter’s home-charging example, a difference of more than €10 per 100 km.
• The estimated saving compared with petrol was over €8 per 100 km when charging at home on household electricity and just under €5 per 100 km when charging publicly. The largest savings came with a private PV system.
• The presenter notes that the comparison is imperfect: a mid-range Tesla is being compared with a fuel-efficient small petrol car. The calculation also excludes possible discounts from Section 14a and dynamic electricity tariffs.

Break-even framework

The video estimates how much more an EV could cost upfront than a comparable petrol car and still break even through lower energy costs over seven years, the stated average holding period for a used car in Germany.

The estimate depends on the charging setup—private PV, household electricity, or public AC charging—and annual mileage. The resulting break-even premium is then compared with actual used-car price differences for the relevant vehicle class.

At 15,000 km per year, the estimated break-even premium is:

• About €7,500 with home household electricity
• Nearly €9,200 with private PV
• Around €4,800 with public AC charging

The home-charging figures include €1,500 for a wallbox and installation. An existing, cheaper, or self-installed wallbox could leave more of the savings available to offset the vehicle’s purchase-price premium. At 20,000 km per year with private PV, the estimated premium approaches €13,000. Lower mileage reduces the amount that can be justified through savings.

Vehicle-class comparisons and cautions

• In the examples reviewed, the purchase-price premium was largest for small cars. Public charging made a small EV difficult to justify through energy savings alone; the example only worked at 20,000 km per year.
• For mid-range cars, the lower premium could be recouped even at lower mileage and with public charging, although some cases were close to break-even.
• For an SUV, the example suggested that the premium could be recovered at 10,000 km per year with public charging, but only narrowly.
• The presenter’s used-car examples put the premiums for mid-range cars and SUVs at roughly €2,600–€3,400.

These are illustrative comparisons, not universal results. The analysis excludes insurance, vehicle tax, maintenance, and resale-value differences. Actual consumption, tariffs, and specific offers can materially change the result.

Takeaway and recommendation

The presenter says this is not necessarily the worst time to buy, but there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The case is less favorable for small cars, low annual mileage, or public-only charging—especially when several of these factors apply together.

Buyers who can wait might consider doing so: if fuel prices fall, used-EV prices may also fall. This is presented as a possibility based on observed data, not a guarantee. The calculation uses €2 per litre, below the cited pump price of €2.27 per litre at the time.

Assets, vehicles, and instruments mentioned

• Tesla Model 3 and Mini
• Used electric cars, petrol and other combustion cars, and SUVs
• Petrol, household electricity, public AC charging, private PV electricity, and wallboxes
• No stock tickers, ETFs, bonds, or cryptocurrencies are discussed.

Disclosures and sources

• The video includes a paid sponsorship from Wechselpilot, which claims an average household saving of €360 per year, offers €20 cashback with the code “Akkudoktor,” and promotes a monthly electricity-bill giveaway of up to €1,500. These are sponsor claims.
• No explicit “not financial advice” disclaimer appears in the subtitles. The presenter emphasizes that the vehicle-cost calculations are rough estimates and exclude important costs.
• Presenter/source: Dr. Andreas Schmitz (Akkudoktor), using the team’s vehicle-consumption measurements and comparisons of used-car offers.