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Used electric cars buying guide

Female shoppers charging electric car at charge point, Manchester, UK - Cultura Creative / Alamy
Female shoppers charging electric car at charge point, Manchester, UK - Cultura Creative / Alamy

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 shocking and buyers are rapidly switching on to the idea of owning one.

The marketplace is now chock full of electric cars 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 261.8pc in June compared with the same month last year (admittedly from a low base), according to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) – 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 brand new EVs are undoubtedly impressive and can be considered on equal terms with their petrol and diesel equivalents, what about the used market? Not everyone can raise £35,000-plus for a new electric car, so is now really the right time buy a used one? Here’s what you should be looking for.

Is this the right time to buy?

The simple answer is yes. With a small explosion in the number of electric cars launched in the past 10 years, it now means there’s a great selection of used ones on the market.

general view of an InstaVolt charger in a McDonalds car park UK
general view of an InstaVolt charger in a McDonalds car park UK

Most manufacturers have at least one EV in their range these days, so there can be a great choice of used examples on dealer forecourts. One of the best routes to finding and buying your first electric car 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 with an EV is the battery. When the first mainstream models arrived around a decade ago, a common rumour was that the batteries would need replacing every four to five years, but that has turned out not to be true – especially as EVs have long battery warranties.

But while that theory has been quashed, electric car batteries, like those in your mobile phone, degrade over time, so an electric car from 2010 won’t have the range or storage capacity it did when it was new. To prevent yourself from buying an EV and then discovering it has a weak battery, read the owner’s handbook to discover where the car’s battery health monitor is (usually in its onboard computer) or get the car checked by an expert.

BMW i3 cutaway showing batteries
BMW i3 cutaway showing batteries

Also, be picky about the service history. Make sure the car comes with its charging cables and be wary of bodged accident damage. EVs are specialist cars and they need to have been maintained properly, with any repairs carried out to a quality standard.

Buying or leasing the battery: pros and cons

Unlike a petrol, diesel or even a hybrid, there can be two prices for some electric cars; 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 depend on the number of miles the owner intends to cover a year, but an approximate figure is around £50-£70 per month.

Smart Fortwo EQ electric 2020
Smart Fortwo EQ electric 2020

The big benefit of leasing the battery is that it’s covered if anything goes wrong – like a sudden drop in range – and the manufacturer pays for a replacement. If you buy a used Zoe, for instance, consider the difference in price between the cars on which you have to lease the batteries and those on which you don’t. The cars that have leased batteries are cheaper, but you’ll need to factor in the monthly lease expenditure, as each subsequent owner has to take on the cost.

What about maintenance?

Electric cars have fewer moving parts than an equivalent petrol or diesel car. Simply put, they have an electric motor powered by a battery – there are no complex ignition systems, fuel lines or cambelts. But that doesn’t mean servicing can be neglected.

transparent electric car at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show - Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images
transparent electric car at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show - Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images

The first-generation Nissan Leaf, for example, has service intervals of 18,000 miles which is not too unlike a petrol car, but it’s arguably more imperative it has those services. Technicians will plug a laptop into the car’s onboard computer and update its software, which is often vital for a smooth-running 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 an electric car because you feel the value will drop and make it tricky to sell on.

The trick to not losing much money with an EV, as with any car, is making sure the sums add up in the first place. 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.

Also, be savvy when pricing up the perfect charging point as there are different home wallbox chargers on the market. Do all this and you’ll reap the benefits of cheaper motoring.

So, will you eventually end up with a car with a pitiful range thanks to an old battery? In time, yes, but there’s a strong market for old batteries; unlike engines, batteries aren’t scrapped and tend to be recycled and used again and again by the power generation industry.

Top 5 used electric cars

BMW i3 (2013-present)

BMW i3
BMW i3

Range: 80-195 miles

Price: from £12,000

It may be seven years old, but the i3 still looks as if it’s come from the next century. Expensive to buy new, the earliest cars’ values have softened now and you’ll get a stylish electric car made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic for around £12,000. Over the years, the i3 has had different battery packs giving a variety of ranges, and there was even a range-extender version that used a two-cylinder motorbike engine to generate more electricity.

Nissan Leaf (2011-2017)

Nissan Leaf (2010)
Nissan Leaf (2010)

Range: up to 124 miles

Price: from £5,000

The Leaf was the car that really kicked off the mainstream EV when it launched in 2011. Quiet and comfortable, the Leaf’s batteries could be bought or leased. It’s also easily the most plentiful electric car on the used market, so be picky about condition and service history. The earliest cars will probably only have a 75-mile range now though, due to battery depletion, but despite this they still make cheap run-arounds.

Renault Zoe (2013-2019)

Renault Zoe
Renault Zoe

Range: up to 130 miles

Price: from £5,500

Small, stylish and very affordable, the Zoe is an attractive entry-point electric car and like the Nissan Leaf there’s a healthy number on the used market. You’ll have to factor in the battery lease – around £75 per month on average – but if that doesn’t appeal, Renault did offer the Zoe with the batteries included. Called the Zoe i, it arrived in 2015 and costs more than the battery-lease Zoes.

Tesla Model S (2012-present)

Tesla Model S (2013)
Tesla Model S (2013)

Range: 250-380 miles

Price: from £30,000

Arguably the car that has done the most to transform people’s perceptions of electric cars, the Model S is cool, different and to some, the very definition of what motoring should be about in the 21st century. There’s a bewildering array of versions, but even the earliest cars aren’t dated thanks to regular over-the-air updates. For the best peace of mind, buying an approved used Model S from Tesla itself could be a sensible move as these are highly technical cars.

Volkswagen e-Golf (2014-2019)

Volkswagen e-Golf
Volkswagen e-Golf

Range: Up to 118 miles

Price: from £14,000

While all the other electric cars in this list shout about their electric credentials, the VW e-Golf is different. Essentially, it’s a Golf with the normal petrol or diesel engine removed and an electric motor and battery pack fitted instead. However, the great things about the Golf remain, like the classy image and well-made interior. Look out for tatty e-Golfs though, as many were used in car sharing schemes.

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