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Why now is the time to buy a used electric car
A vibrant second-hand market offers quality as well as quantity, as James Batchelor explains
Considered a bit of a joke not so long ago, the electric car is now a viable option for a growing number of drivers. With governments all over the world plugging into electric vehicles (EVs), the pace of change in even the past 10 years has been rapid.
The marketplace is now chock-full of EVs at different price points. It’s a trend the industry is watching eagerly – and with the 2035 ban on petrol and diesel cars creeping closer, it’s only going to get busier.
Sales of pure electric cars were up 261.8 per cent last month compared with June last year (admittedly from a low base), according to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders – proof that the switch continues to gather momentum.
“Volumes of electric cars are increasing, albeit marginally, as the market grows with new entrants and ageing early models,” says Philip
Nothard, customer insight and strategy director at Cox Automotive. “The proof that customers are switching to EVs is their increased market share in new car registrations data.”
While the latest EVs can be considered on equal terms with their petrol and diesel equivalents, what about the used market? Here’s what you should be looking for to ensure a good deal.
IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME?
The simple answer is yes. With increasing numbers of EVs launched in the past 10 years, there’s now a great selection of used ones on the market.
One of the best routes to finding and buying your first EV is to consult a specialist – with the recent boom, many firms have sprung up to provide reassurance as well as expert advice.
WHAT SHOULD I CHECK? Unsurprisingly, the biggest issue is the battery. When the first mainstream models arrived, a common rumour was that the batteries would need replacing every four to five years, but that has turned out not to be true.
However, electric car batteries, like those in your mobile phone, degrade over time, so an example from 2010 won’t have the range or storage capacity it had when it was new. To avoid buying an EV with a weak battery, read the owner’s handbook to locate its battery health monitor (usually in its onboard computer) or get the car checked by an expert. Also, be picky about the service history. Make sure the car comes with its charging cables and be wary of bodged accident damage.
BUY OR LEASE THE BATTERY? Unlike a petrol, diesel or even a hybrid, there can be two prices for some EVs; the Renault Zoe, Nissan Leaf and Smart Fortwo could be bought in the normal way (whereby buyers own the battery pack) or owners had the option to lease it instead. Lease prices vary, but expect to pay between £50 and £70 per month.
The big benefit of leasing the battery is that problems such as a sudden drop in range are covered by the manufacturer. If you buy a used Zoe, for instance, consider the price difference between cars on which you have to lease the batteries and those on which you don’t. Those with leased batteries are cheaper to buy, but you’ll need to factor in the monthly lease expenditure.
WHAT ABOUT MAINTENANCE?
EVs have fewer moving parts than a petrol or diesel car. Simply put, they have an electric motor powered by a battery and there are no complex ignition systems, fuel lines or cambelts. But that doesn’t mean servicing can be neglected. The first-generation Nissan Leaf, for example, has service intervals of 18,000 miles, which is not unlike a petrol car, but it’s arguably more imperative it has those services. Technicians will access the car’s on-board computer and update its software, which is often vital for a smoothrunning electric experience.
You can get tyres and brakes replaced and the car MOT tested at the same location as you would for any other car, but it’s worth checking to make sure they’re happy carrying out the test. Amazingly, some are nervous.
WILL I LOSE MONEY?
An EV, like all cars, will depreciate. But don’t be concerned about buying because you feel the value will drop.
The trick to not losing much money with an EV, as with any car, is to do your homework and pick the right model for you. Look for one that gives you the range you need and choose carefully between a battery-leased or non-battery-leased model.
Be savvy when pricing up the growing variety of home charging points. Do all this and you’ll reap the benefits of cheaper motoring.
So, will you eventually end up with a pitiful range due to an old battery? In time, yes, but there’s a strong market for old batteries, which tend to be recycled and used again and again by the power generation industry.