Tips for Buying a Used EV

[ChargePoint]

The popularity of leasing means that lightly used EVs are often on the market - 34% of EV sales in 2017 so far have been preowned. To help you in your search, here are five things to think about when buying used. http://bit.ly/BuyinganEV

Bonus Tip:
Driving habits and conditions affect battery life, however, losing range hasn’t been a serious problem with used EVs, many of which have hit over 100,000 miles and are still going strong. More at the link!


What are your tips for anyone out there looking to purchase a preowned EV?

 

[LeftieBiker]

This topic is being spammed around the site's subforums. The assertion about little or no range loss is dead wrong in the case of the Leaf, and unproven in the case of the Bolt. These people need to have someone check what they want to post before they do it.

 

[oilerlord]

Further to Leftie's point, The OP does the community a disservice by posting a link that marginalizes the risk of purchasing a used EV. Used EVs are cheap for a reason.

Some owners take care of their battery and do what they can to extend their lifespan, others could care less. The risk of ending up burdened with an EV with a severely degraded battery is REAL but can be mitigated by having the dealer test the battery's health - and share the results with you.

Tip #1: Only pull the trigger on an older / high mileage EV AFTER you know what condition the battery is in, and have a better understanding on how much battery life remains.

Tip #2: Assume that a used EV that's been baking for years in the Arizona sun has more battery degradation than one from Washington or Oregon. If unsure, refer to Tip #1.

Tip#3: Set your online EV shopping search parameters to include choices with 10,000 miles or less. Choose the EV with the fewest miles that still fits within your budget. It's worth paying more for less battery wear.

 

[LeftieBiker]

Some owners take care of their battery and do what they can to extend their lifespan, others could care less

And sadly, some owners take good care of their battery pack and it doesn't matter - if the climate is Hot the pack will degrade regardless of how it's treated.

 

[DNAinaGoodWay]

If you’re looking at used Leafs, checking the battery with LeafSpy is essential. I wouldn’t rely on a dealer. Checking carfax to see where that Leaf has lived is important too. I’ve seen many used LEAFs in MA that were brought here from the hot southwest.