Buying a used electric car can be challenging, with so many factors and vehicles to consider.
There are lots of very good plug-in electric cars for sale now, and some of them are starting to show up on used-car lots.
Consumer concerns about limited range and battery longevity could have an impact on used electric car prices. However, the range of today’s electric cars—about 80 to 100 miles per charge—exceeds the daily driving needs of more than 90 percent of commuters, who commonly drive less than 40 miles per day.
Since the introduction of the government’s £5,000 subsidy in 2011, over 6,000 electric cars have been registered in the UK (to end 2013). The latest data from CAP Automotive shows that, over the past three years, all-electric cars have retained only 20.2 per cent of their value, way behind diesel cars which on average have retained 44.7 per cent of their value. Hybrids have retained 45.3 per cent over the past three years.
The savage depreciation of a new electric car is precisely what could make it a good used buy. If an electric car suits your lifestyle, you can now buy a used example that represents better value than a conventionally fuelled alternative, and Carmony.co.uk is the place to start.
Rather than looking only at resale value, the more important financial consideration for plug-ins is total cost of ownership. Despite relatively higher sticker prices, the total cost of owning an electric car is less than a comparable internal combustion car, because electricity as an auto fuel costs less than half the price of petrol—and there are reduced maintenance costs for electric cars. Therefore, buying a used electric car make particular sense.
If you are planning to buy a second-hand electric car, then there are few points that you should pay attention to before making any final call.
There are some common sense tips while buying a used car which you should always remember. These include checking out the papers of car and test driving it before signing on the dotted line. Important issues to consider specifically when buying a used electric car are:
– Range – check the driving range of the specific used electric car as this can vary on a model by model basis.
– Charging – check what cables come with the vehicle, what type of charging points can be used with the existing cable and if limited, what additional cables compatible cables can be purchased.
– Warranty – You must never finalize a deal without a warranty, especially if you’re dealing in a used car. electric cars typically have a separate and different warranty for the battery and the vehicle itself. EV batteries are designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle without having to be replaced, but it is important to check what the remaining warranty is, in particular for the battery, as the battery can be expensive to replace.
– Support – there are some excellent support packages available from some manufacturers, such as free pick-up if run out of charge.
