Electric vehicle ownership costs and savings

Rodolphe, an electric vehicle owner since 2018, initially purchased a Hyundai Ioniq 28 for 26,000 euros, after receiving a 6,000 euro bonus and a 5,000 euro reduction linked to his wife’s artisan status. He later sold the vehicle in 2024 for 11,900 euros and used the proceeds to buy a used Hyundai Ioniq 5 P45.

Lease and repurchase details

Rodolphe leased the Ioniq 28 for three years with a buyback price of 13,000 euros after 37 months, despite driving 10,000 km more than the agreement allowed. He repurchased the vehicle with a loan and estimates he saved between 12,000 and 14,000 euros in energy and maintenance costs over seven years.

Purchasing the Ioniq 5 P45

In 2024, Rodolphe used a 3,500 euro conversion bonus from scrapping his old Renault Clio to buy a used Hyundai Ioniq 5 P45 for 29,000 euros. The P45 is a limited edition model with a 72.2 kWh battery, all-wheel drive, and a solar roof, but it had a reduced warranty due to its prior use as a taxi.

Technical issues with the Ioniq 5 P45

Rodolphe encountered several technical issues with the Ioniq 5 P45, including a malfunctioning speaker on the driver’s door, an adaptive speed regulator that failed intermittently, and a charging control unit (ICCU) failure. The speaker and ICCU were repaired under warranty, but the adaptive speed regulator required a 150 euro replacement part he purchased himself.

Battery performance and future plans

The Ioniq 5 P45’s battery state of health has dropped from 100% to 93% over 50,000 km, reducing its range to about 200 km when charged to 80%, compared to 360-400 km at full capacity. Despite these issues, Rodolphe plans to keep the vehicle until it reaches 200,000 km, potentially upgrading the battery in France if possible.

Family and future EV adoption

Rodolphe notes that his children, who are currently three and seven years old, will likely drive electric vehicles when they reach driving age, reflecting his continued confidence in the technology and its long-term viability.