A Volkswagen ID.4 electric car on display at a VW dealership in CaliforniaJosh Lefkowitz/Getty Images
Deals have abounded in the EV market since last summer.
Discounts are getting bigger after it got harder to qualify for the $7,500 tax credit.
The most expensive EVs are seeing the biggest discounts.
Electric vehicles are getting some hefty discounts this year.
In order to deal with a slowdown in demand for big, expensive electric cars — and dwindling federal incentives — dealers and manufacturers are pouring on discounts.
Deals have abounded in the EV market since last summer, when these cars started piling up on dealer lots. Elon Musk's aggressive discounting of the popular Tesla Model 3 and Model Y didn't help either.
By the end of last year, electric cars were seeing some of their highest discounts ever, according to Kelley Blue Book. Average EV incentives rocketed to 9.8% of average transaction prices from 2% just a year earlier.
The discounts are continuing into this year, with some of the most expensive models seeing the biggest price cuts. Changes to requirements for a $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit have also put more responsibility on the dealer and the manufacturer to discount prices.
As demand from wealthy early adopters in the EV segment dries up, affordability is a new deciding factor for the success of an electric car.
We asked Edmunds for a list of the most discounted electric cars in January. These discounts don't take into account the $7,500 federal tax credit for qualifying vehicles.
Here are the best deals you can find on EVs right now:
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4MATIC SUV.Tim Levin/Insider
Average transaction price: $82,171
Sticker price: $92,173
Average discount: $10,002
The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is a Tesla-fighter aimed at the heart of the US car market. Business Insider drove it last year and we loved everything about it but the looks.
The Porsche Taycan has long been a leader in the ultra-luxury electric vehicle market, with its fiercest competitor being the Tesla Model S. Discounts on the Taycan come as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been lowering the price of its flagship sedan.
The Audi Q8 e-tron is positioned to compete with Tesla's Model X and Model Y, both of which have been heavily discounted in the past year.
Volkswagen ID.4
The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4.Volkswagen
Average transaction price: $47,593
Sticker price: $50,874
Average discount: $3,281
The Volkswagen ID.4 was one of the first electric SUVs to compete with Tesla's Model Y when it debuted in 2020. It's likely been hit by bigger discounts due to its positioning as a more attainable option for first-time EV buyers.
The BMW i5 is the latest electric sedan in the German luxury carmaker's lineup. It went on sale last fall, amid a softening in demand for expensive EVs.
