For years, the electric vehicle sector has been riding a tsunami of optimism, with automakers and investors relying heavily on a future powered by battery-driven vehicles. However, as EV technology advances, there is one growing issue that even the market’s largest players cannot ignore: resale value. And on the most recent episode of JRE Fight Companion, despite being friends with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Joe Rogan did not hold back in addressing what he perceives as the number one issue harming the EV market: the brutal depreciation of used electric vehicles.

“Here’s the problem with electric vehicles,” the podcaster began. “This is the number one problem: resale—terrible. Nobody wants to buy a used electric car because the range drops off.” He then compared it to regular high-end automobiles, noting that a Ferrari or AMG GT retains value and may even be sold for a profit, whereas EVs drop in price almost instantly. What’s his example? Audi’s E-Tron—a car that used to cost $150,000 but is now accessible for nearly half the price after just a year. “Like, if you buy a Ferrari today and you sell it in a year and you have 1,000 miles on it, you’ll make money. But if you have a f—– electric car, like Audi’s, those E-trons—those are sick.” In other words, what was supposed to be a luxury investment turned into a quick financial loss.

It is worth noting that Joe Rogan’s statements come at a time when statistics present a similarly bleak picture. According to a 2024 study, pre-owned EVs now sell for 11.4% less than gasoline-powered cars, while costing substantially more upfront. Even Elon Musk’s Tesla, the once-undisputed leader of the EV market, has not been spared—the Tesla Model 3 experienced an astounding 24.8% price drop in the previous year in the resale market. The issue isn’t only customer hesitation but basic issues in the used EV market—battery decay, expensive replacements, and inadequate public charging infrastructure.

So, where does this leave Elon Musk and the larger EV industry? Despite lowering prices and attracting consumers at a faster rate, used EVs must now be priced 8-11% lower than equivalent gas or hybrid vehicles to sell quickly. That’s a disturbing indicator for a sector that was intended to transform transportation. While Musk’s Tesla remains at the forefront, the resale problem raised by Joe Rogan on Fight Companion surely presents an urgent question: Will EVs ever be as financially feasible in the long run as their gas-powered counterparts? Well, only time will tell. But do you know that this isn’t the first time that Joe Rogan has found himself on the opposite side of his good friend, Elon Musk? In fact, the two almost got into a verbal argument on an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience.

Joe Rogan ticked off Tesla CEO Elon Musk on his podcast

Joe Rogan and Elon Musk have had many amusing conversations on The Joe Rogan Experience, but every now and then, their discussions take a turn towards actual disagreement. One such instance occurred when Musk, an outspoken opponent of artificial intelligence, gave a dismal picture of AI’s future. The tech billionaire warned of a grim future in which AI would become an omnipotent force, directing human behavior to the extreme. “Like, if there’s… a super oppressive woke nanny AI that is omnipotent, that would be a miserable outcome,” Musk stated. While the Tesla CEO regarded AI as a ticking time bomb, Joe Rogan was less convinced.

Instead, Rogan said that AI may be a force for good, a tool capable of addressing some of society’s most critical issues. He posed a bold question: Could AI really fix dysfunctional systems, redistribute income more fairly, and clean up corruption? His argument was not purely hypothetical; the numbers present a bleak picture. The top 1% of Americans (including Musk) own over 30% of the country’s total wealth, while the bottom 50% own only 2.5%. This growing inequality clearly concerned the UFC commentator, who did not hesitate to question his rich guest on whether AI could help solve it. Musk, however, remained silent.

If that wasn’t enough, the podcaster decided to go even further, this time addressing a matter close to Musk’s political allies. He brought up a controversial way of exploiting natural resources known as fracking and wondered if AI could cut through the noise of corruption, lobbyists, and corporate interests. Given the Tesla CEO’s strong ties to figures like Donald Trump, who has been an outspoken advocate of fracking, Joe Rogan’s line of questioning was bound to raise eyebrows. Musk, known for his outspokenness, had no brilliant answer.

Whether the UFC commentator was purposefully pushing Musk’s buttons or merely stating his concerns, one thing was certain: it was one of the rare occasions when the world’s richest man had little to say. What do you think? Did Joe Rogan raise genuine concerns? Let us know in the comments.