What to look for when buying a used electric car

Buying an electric car is becoming less of a bold decision these days as battery-powered vehicles become a legitimate choice.

And while some people might think you’d still have to be brave to consider a second-hand EV, that isn’t the case.

There is a lot of benefit – and value – in buying a used electric vehicle if you know what you want and what to look for.

For starters, first-generation EVs were generally purchased by early adopters who were willing to pay a premium for the technology, understood the benefits and, in most cases, have cared for them better than most do with a conventional vehicle.

Now that those early models are being replaced by updated versions and owners want to stay ahead of the Joneses there are more used EVs for sale than ever before, which inherently drives down prices and makes them more affordable.

With that in mind, if you’re thinking about buying a pre-owned electric car, here’s some handy tips on what to look for.

Unlike a conventional car where the engine’s performance is one of the most critical factors to check when buying a used example, it is the battery – essentially the fuel tank of an electric car – that will determine whether it has been cared for properly.

Electric vehicles use a collection of individual lithium-ion cells to create the battery pack that stores energy which is then delivered to the electric motor/s. And, just like a petrol tank, it needs to be replenished through the process of recharging.

This, however, can degrade the battery over time if the owner has consistently used high-voltage rapid-charging stations, if the vehicle is often driven in extreme temperatures or if the car remains stationary for long periods when fully charged.

Battery degradation can be prevented – or reduced – with proper care and charging behaviour, such as using lower-powered AC outlets more often and depleting the capacity of the battery to near empty before replenishing it.

Most EVs monitor the battery and display its state of health in either the instrument cluster or specific menus within the infotainment system.

So, check this out when looking at any second-hand electric car, and ask the owner about their charging and driving behaviour.

It is just as important to know just how big the battery is, as this will determine the driving range of the vehicle.

Some EVs are offered with different battery packs or have been upgraded during their lifecycle with larger batteries or additional features that improve the longevity, such as cooling systems.

Battery capacity is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and, naturally, the larger the number the more energy it can store to provide a longer driving range.

Some newer EV batteries have measurements for both total and useable capacity with what is called a buffer in between the two.

The buffer is essentially the extreme top and bottom portions of the battery that are ‘allowed’ to degrade over time, providing the owner with a consistent driving range for the life of the vehicle.

Make sure you check the exact specifications of the vehicle to understand its driving range and the battery’s protective measures. Apart from the overall condition of the vehicle, this will ultimately dictate its value.

You can do this by finding the build date on the compliance plate and searching the comprehensive database on carsales.com.au.

Just as there are different-size fuel hoses for diesel and unleaded petrol at the service station, there is a variety of plug types for recharging an electric vehicle.

Essentially, there are five main plug types. Both Type 1 and Type 2 plugs are compatible only for lower-powered AC charging outlets, such as from home or the office and standard public charging stations.

The Type 1 plug was predominantly used exclusively by Mitsubishi for its original Mitsubishi i-MiEV and earlier versions of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid, while Type 2 is the most common and now the standard for Australian EVs.

If the vehicle is equipped with the ability to use rapid-charging stations, it will have either a CHAdeMo plug (commonly used by Japanese brands) or a CCS Combo plug (common for European brands as well as others like Hyundai and Kia). Lastly, Tesla has a unique version of the Type 2 plug that is capable of DC rapid-charging through its network of Supercharger outlets.

Make sure you research the recharging network that you are most likely to use in your area and the plug type of the vehicle to maximise the convenience of public charging.

You wouldn’t buy a mobile phone or a laptop computer without a charging cable, and it is the same with an electric car.

For starters, you won’t be able to refill the battery at home or the office, and some public charging stations only provide a power point that requires the owner to plug in their own cable.

So, make sure it comes with one.

If the charging cable is not being offered with the vehicle for some reason, you can purchase a replacement from the vehicle manufacturer. But these are usually quite expensive, which you could use as a bargaining chip when negotiating the value of a second-hand EV.

Some manufacturers also offer an optional higher-voltage wallbox with the vehicle that can be installed at home to reduce the charging time. Ask the owner if they have one and intend on keeping it or are selling it with the vehicle.

Finally, one of the most appealing elements in EV ownership is lower servicing costs and longer scheduled maintenance periods.

That is primarily due to the fact that electric vehicles have far fewer moving parts and do not require fluids such as lubricants and coolants.

But owners shouldn’t ignore the conventional elements of the car that need to be maintained properly.

So, just as you would with any second-hand vehicle, check the service history and ensure it has had any notified recall issues rectified through an official process.

At carsales, we can help you along the way with not only listings, but buying tools such as a carsales vehicle history report and pre-purchase inspections via RedBook Inspect.