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Your Guide To: Buying A Used EV

Your Guide To: Buying A Used EV

Buying a used car comes with standard checks. But as the used Electric Vehicle (EV) market emerges, it can be hard to know what you need to measure; after all, unlike diesel or petrol vehicles, you can’t check oil and there’s no real idea of the maximum mileage for EVs. Here are a few things that you need to consider:

Range is your first priority. If you are buying second hand, you are probably looking at an older model EV. Older models tend to have smaller range than the newer ones. A good indicator of the vehicle’s range is its kWh rating; the higher the rating, the more energy the battery can store, therefore the longer the range. It is also worth bearing in mind that a larger car might have a larger kilowatt hour rating, but it will also take longer to charge.

Battery ownership is something else that needs to be considered. First generation EVs were often sold with the battery on a lease basis. So, unless the finance on the battery has been settled, this may be another cost factor that you need to consider. A vehicle that has no battery lease may be a third more expensive than one which has an active lease; don’t dismiss the more expensive one and assume that the cheaper one is better value until you know the full terms.

Battery capacity reduces by an average of 2% every year. However, like any previously owned vehicle, this depends on how the car has been used and cared for. Fast charging, charging to the maximum and letting the charge drop to below 20% are known to take their toll on the battery capacity. Interestingly, it is unknown how much impact undercharging or rarely charging can have, so an early EV with a very low mileage might not be the bargain that it seems. Usually, an EV will have an indicator to show the battery capacity; if it’s not obvious, you may need to consult a local garage or car sales centre to find out for you.

Service history is always important, but especially so with used EVs. Check that it has a full history, and up to date software updates.

Leads - you know how annoying it is when you buy a TV or computer, only to realise you don’t have all the leads? Well, it is 100 times more annoying when you have bought a car. Check that you have all of the leads, that you know how to use them, and that they work properly.

Suspension can wear out quickly with EVs as they are so heavy; be careful to see how the car feels on the test drive, particularly over bumps.

If you are in doubt, take your prospective new to you EV to a local, reliable garage for a once over. Your first steps into the world of electric vehicles could just transform your life.

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