Jaguar is betting the brand's entire existence on electric cars these days. Yet the former British brand is now scrapping electric cars by the thousands.
Last year, the Jaguar importer in the US agreed to buy back just under 3,000 I-Pace electric cars from their owners. Problems with the battery packs that made the cars flammable could not be resolved.
And now, images from a scrapyard in England show rows of I-Pace models waiting to be scrapped.
These cars, which are only a few years old, appear to be in good condition. However, as they are from Jaguar's buyback, they are no longer safe to drive.
The reason for the scrapping is probably a potentially dangerous battery defect that can lead to overheating and, in the worst case, a fire.
Jaguar has attempted to resolve the issue with several software updates, but it has not been sufficient.
Jaguar has now been forced to recall the affected electric cars and offer owners a buy-back option, which has of course cost Jaguar a significant amount of money.
Early models of the Jaguar I-Pace have been found to have a more complex battery fault than initially thought.
Although it has been possible to solve the problem on later models by replacing certain modules in the battery, it has not been possible to do the same on the older models.
Now these cars will end their days in a scrapyard, where they will be scrapped and the various materials recycled. It is a sad fate for these otherwise luxurious electric cars.
Jaguar has now discontinued the I-Pace model and plans to launch a new, even more luxurious electric car instead. However, this model is expected to cost more than double the current I-Pace.
Although most manufacturers have now resolved their battery problems, there are still a few examples of electric cars that suffer from similar fire risks.
An example is the Audi e-tron 55, where problems with the battery have also been identified.
Several Jaguar I-Pace models have also been subject to recalls in Denmark. However, the importer has refused to buy back the cars, as it is not believed that the Danish cars are affected by the same problems as the cars that have given rise to recalls in other countries.
– The European cars are not covered by H514 (the recall in the USA, ed.), as the JLR group has learned that the previously carried out campaigns have solved the problem on the European-produced cars, British Car Import writes on December 13, 2024 in an email to the Danish Safety Technology Authority, according to BT .
However, it is worth noting that the cars shown in the pictures from the scrapyard in England are equipped with English license plates.
It is therefore unclear whether these cars are also affected by the same problems as the American models.
Regardless of the reason for the scrapping of these electric cars, it is an expression of the challenges that still exist in the development and production of electric cars. Battery technology is still evolving.
The profile behind the post on X does not mention prototype cars that are intended to be scrapped. A search of the English motor register apparently confirms that the cars have been on the roads under completely normal conditions.
