Use the EB guide: how to buy a used electric car

Not to mention all the new electric cars arriving this year, maybe by 2020 people will start buying used ones? This is an important question, whether people are willing to buy used electric vehicles and for how much will help determine how successful new models will or will not be.

Simply put, it's used to electric vehicles that will provide nervous buyers with their first, more affordable electric car experience, which one day may give them the confidence to buy a new one. It is used by electric vehicles that will determine how much people pay each month for the new model at PCP. And it's being used by EVS, which, if they sell easily and profitably, will give dealers the confidence to market and support new models.

Fortunately, it looks like EMU may have turned the corner. Consumer interest is increasing as new models with longer ranges arrive, charging infrastructure expands and city centers punish fossil fuel cars. Sales of new and used models are on the rise, and most importantly, the residual value of used electric vehicles is, for the most part, stabilizing and even rising in one or two cases, albeit from a very low base.

Leading car auction house Shoreham believes the market has reached a “tipping point of acceptance”. He cites the 2015 Reg Nissan Leaf sporting 20 miles, which in 000 was valued at £2017. Last year the same model with the same mileage, but registered in 8850, he says costs £2017.

Although this is not a universal trend. Cap, management's estimate, says EV sector's two-speed market for cheap used electric vehicles such as the Peugeot Ion and Renault Zoe is rising in price, while premium models such as the Jaguar i-PACE, Audi e-electron and Tesla Model X are still falling .

“There is a growing market for used EVs bought for use as a second car for city commutes and we expect to see increased demand as the clean air zone rolls out and new models are launched,” says Chris Plumb, Senior Pricing Editor at Cap GPI. “On the other hand, the high price of new premium models still translate into higher prices.”

More electric vehicles on the market, so that the traditional laws of supply and demand assert themselves. For example, a large number of two-year-old Volkswagen e-Golfs and Nissan Leafs (especially 30kWh models) are depressingly priced. However, the plumb line says this is normal.

“A sign that the EV market is maturing is that used EVs perform under the same market factors as their gasoline and diesel counterparts,” he says.

So, if the EBU has indeed turned the corner, perhaps now is the time to consider buying a used one.

How to buy a used EV

With no oil to dip, no coolant to check, there is no other example to compare it to and most likely a salesperson who is as clueless as you have used an EV can be a daunting prospect for an uninformed car buyer. So let's start with the basics.

Generally speaking, first-generation electric vehicles have shorter driving distances than the most recent models. You can rate models vary from your kWh customers such as the 22kWh Reno Zoe. This is a measure of the energy storage capacity of a battery, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The higher the number, the greater the range of the car, but the longer the battery will take to fully charge.

With some early electric vehicles, you had to rent the battery if the finances had been settled and are now included in the car's sale price. The commercials are not always clear about whether the price of used EVs includes a battery or whether it has to be rented, so be sure to ask at the outset.

The price difference between machines with and without batteries can be noted. For example, a 2015 Reg Renault 22kWh Zoe and Dynamic Zen with 21 miles and its own battery is £000 compared to £12,249 for the same age and mileage with a navigation service book whose batteries must be leased.

A typical battery loses about 2% of its charging capacity each year, although this has a lot to do with how it was handled. For example, the battery does not like to be charged too fast, and is charged to the maximum or allowed to discharge below 20%. Use caution with an older EV vehicle with low mileage, because no examples of battery damage due to insufficient charging are known.

Most electric vehicles have a battery indicator that shows how much charge they have. Most of the 2011-reg Nissan Leafs have lost one indicator light, corresponding to a 5-8% loss in the range. It's harder to tell Zoe's battery capacity - you'll need the dealer to interrogate on the car. Ignore the horror stories about having to splash out thousands on battery replacements, as it is possible to buy cell replacements for a few hundred pounds, which will restore the charge capacity.

Only buy a used EV that has a full service history because it will have had all of its software updates. The battery may still be justified too. Check all on-board electronics and infotainment services. Make sure all chargers, wires are present and proper replacements are expensive.

The EV draws some of its battery charge from regenerative braking, which occurs when you take off the gas pedal. It can be strong enough to make normal braking unnecessary. Worn brakes on EVs suggest that this was due to being quite stiff, as, under normal use, they should last longer than brakes on a conventional car.

EMUs are heavy and can be worn by their pendants. For example, the suspension arms are a weak spot in the early Renault Zoe. On a test drive, check out the ride, handling, and listen for the thumps and rattles of the speed bumps.

Top six used EMU

The used EV market is showing signs of growth, but as it has been written, one popular sales site only showed 2300 of them. At least they fit most pockets, thanks to prices ranging from £5195 on a 2011 Reg Nissan Leaf to £99,950 on a 2019 Tesla Model S. Here are some of the best…

Nissan Leaf (2011-18)

Price: £5000- 16,500

Official range: 100-155 miles

Our Pick: Leaf Sports 30kWh, 2015 Reg, 64,000 miles, £9995: early versions were simpler and had less boot but, starting in 2013, the car got more range and three trim levels. There are 22kWh versions, but we prefer the 30kWh's larger range.

Pay attention to: cell battery reduction that the unique infotainment system, the SD card with the ship and that all reminds are implemented. The brakes must last 50 miles.

Volkswagen e-Golf (2014-19)

Price: £15,995- 31,000

Official range: 118-186 miles

Our choice: e-golf 24,2kw 115PS, 2016-reg, 30000 miles, £16,000: e-Golf not only looks like regular golf, but feels very similar too. Early versions were short range and not very powerful, but in 2017 the model got 35.8kWh of battery and power increased from 113bhp from the 134bhp unit.

Pay attention to: these cars tend to be tough, but check the battery indicator and service history.

Renault Zoe (2013-18)

Price: £5600- £20,000

Official range: 130-250 miles

Our pick: Zoe R240 22kWh i HBO Navigation, 2015-REG 21 miles, £000: roomy, practical, safe and with a good range, from 2015 Zoe branded "i" came with batteries as standard and are more expensive. Renting a battery costs from 50 pounds per month. Charging time is slower than leaves.

Looking for: registration in tire sealant is supplied with the car at date, and also for irregular front tire wear. The front suspension may not listen to the thumps and rattles. Make sure eight reminiscent models have been met.

BMW i3 (since 2013)

Price: £11,990- 38,975

Official range: 80-120 miles (battery-electric version)

Our pick: i3 94Ah, 2016-reg, 29,000 miles, £18,450: The i3 goes further than most EVs by using modern materials and having a space-age interior with 'suicide' rear doors. As standard, all have 19-inch alloys, climate control, satellite navigation and, most importantly, a battery.

Искать: check if it has an optional fast charging system. A carbon fiber body can be the devil to repair. Make sure it has a full service history as there have been many software updates.

Jaguar I-PACE

Price: £49,999- 78,900

Official range: 310 miles

Our pick: i-PACE 90kWh SE, 2018-reg, 12000 miles, £49,999: despite having been on sale for less than 18 months, the i-pace is surprisingly bountiful on the market. This is partly because the big Dealer Demos are being de-fleeted but also because some of them are still valued too heavily. This is your replica to bargain for a lot on this great EV.

Искать: As the numbers go up, i-pace is quite color and specification-sensitive, so choose with care.

Tesla Model S

Price: £30,000- 90,000

Official range: 248-381 miles

Our pick: 90D model, 2016-reg, 28000 miles, £49,900: among the elderly, used EMU, Model S has no rivals, while the supercharger network brand is the best. There are cheaper and less powerful versions, but we tried high with the 90kWh version. Its battery has an official range of 346 miles, while the electric motor produces 417bhp. The "D" in the name means it's all-wheel drive. Look for cars with free power for life.

Looking for: damage to the body - it can take ages to repair. Check door handles slip and brake discs have plenty of life. Make sure all electrical work.

Meet the dealer, EV

A sign that used electric cars are becoming more popular is the arrival of dealers specializing in them. EV Experts, based in Guildford, was founded in 2017 by Martin Miller, a former advertising executive with Ogilvy & Mather, where he worked for Ford Accounts and later at Nokia, where he was introduced to battery technology. A few years ago he found himself in the market for a used BMW i3 and was shocked at how badly he was being treated with remedies.

“It was a bitter experience,” he tells me as we meet at the station square, ironically located on the site of an old BP gas station. “If you can convince them to let you try i3, they are not interested in accompanying you and they knew very little about the technology. Later, I visited three Renault dealers who tried to convince me not to buy the Zoe, but to buy the Clio instead!”

Miller had recently been fired from Nokia and had some money to invest. He thought he could do better as EV experts came in about.

“I decided that selling used EVs required a professional approach, so together with my Symonds partner Estelle, who has a law degree, we started EV Experts intending to address these issues we encountered when looking for our first EV.

“We're taking the time to figure out how EV may or may not slot into a lifestyle client. We explained the technology and we help them create home exercises or work out if they don't have a road where else they can charge perhaps in the gym or library. We guide them around apps that can help plan their travels too.”

Miller only sells vehicles with a full service history as they are likely to have all software updates. Stocks are auctioned off (there are an increasing number registered for sale only), other dealers are wary of using EVS as a trade-in.

“We've seen more people this year trading in their old EVs that they bought as a second car with a new one, which is now their main car,” he says.

Miller offers a warranty specifically for electric vehicles. There were claims, but for things like sensors, cameras and gimbals, not batteries, electric motors and inverters.

He looks forward to the rest of 2020. “Sales are rising while high prices for some EMUs are not putting people in. They did FKP and I'm not getting anything in return. Instead, they increasingly see EVs in the long run as they are happy with the fund rather than the mortgage. Our only problem is disposing of their diesel trade-in!”

How can you try before you buy

“Our brother-in-law sent us a Tesla charger, so we thought we'd better take the car to plug it in.”

As a reason to go green it's not quite on the same level as saving the planet, but it seemed to me Lorraine Bailey was just making excuses for her husband John, whose heart is already buying his first EV. So, in fact, that the newlyweds came to John JCG all the way from Earley near Reading's Holiday Inn, outside Sevenoaks, for a presentation on the benefits of running an electric car. After that, it will be possible to drive the Jaguar-i-Pace, Tesla models S, X and 3, Audi e-tron, BMW i3s successfully and Renault Zoe.

Bailey has already been joined by 50 other folks - a mix of self-employed people who want to know more about the business case for electric vehicles, private buyers on the edge of the first and just curious ones.

Among them is Markus Kuzmiak, from Reading. “I'm a data evangelist working in the renewable energy sector,” he says, without a hint of a smile. “I lived without a car for 12 years, but with the advent of electric cars, I no longer intend to. My Model 3 Tesla arrived in 30 days. EV culture, our responsibility to the planet… it all appeals to me.”

The presentation that he and everyone else paid £20 each to experience today is given to EVision electric car rental, EV leasing and rental business. I'm waiting for his green velvet glove to pack a hard hitting sales punch...

Hugh Edeleanu, chairman of EVision, speaks first. The Cambridge-educated engineer says climate change is indeed happening, but like cavalry from over the hill, a new generation of electric vehicles is coming to the rescue. “This year will be a turning point,” he says. “Longer range models and better technology are coming.”

He's quick to point out, however, that most modern electric vehicles also have quite good ranges and are very reliable. A hand shoots up from the audience: “the majority?”

Edeleanu says the company is not leasing Nissan Leafs. “Range models are not good and do not have proper battery cooling.”

Steering the presentation back on a more positive note, he explains the pros and cons of various charging options and outlines the benefits of expected value: cheaper than a fossil fuel car to run, safer to drive and kinder to the environment. But also as in April, no in-kind benefit in paying employees to drive EVs and only a small fee (1%) from 2021, rising by the same amount thereafter. Currently, the charge is 16%.

I return to an earlier conversation with one of the delegates. Kevin Stripper Knife Model Q and his wife Sadie run a ground source heat pump installation business. They are interested in EMUs because they are good business suits, but also because they attract serious Bik savings. What keeps them buying the wrong car and leaving on newer models with longer travel ranges. I tune back into the presentation as Edeleanu tackles this moment.

“EV technology is changing rapidly and the choice of models is growing every month. The problem is, if you buy an EV, you're stuck with it, so instead rent or lease and buy yourself time while the market develops and you find out which one suits you best. Many of our customers who intend to buy have signed up to do so.”

Sales pitch over, Edeleanu invites questions. Topics include insurance, accident safety, electric fireplaces and lithium-ion stock. They are a bit gloomy though, so after a while Edeleanu calls the time and invites everyone outside to drive cars.

I will follow them. Audi e-electron is causing a stir. A couple come off at I-tempo while the other bags-drive Tesla. Each car is accompanied by an EVision employee to answer questions and make sure the car is returned safe and sound.

I'm zeroing in on a couple of young delegates already installed in Model 3. The person says EVision to Lydia via Tesla's controls. Liam, her husband, tells me he is an electrician with a growing business of installing domestic EV chargers. Turning to eV rather than his BMW M240i will look good,” he says. Lydia taxis 3 from the hotel car park and into the main road. She really wanted to see if it's as fast as M. Liam

"She!" she declares as our heads push him into the handcuffs. As the car looks and Lydia is amazed to see that throughout the drive she never used the brakes. Now it's Liam's turn. Exiting the carousel for a little lick, he finds that 3 leans less than his BMW. Back at the hotel, I spy on a delegate about leaving in Model X. Phil Jackson is a consultant on the environment and sustainable building. He drives a 12 year old BMW 320 CI convertible.

“With the changes at Bik, I'm moving to EV from April,” he says. “He will fit my case too. This Tesla, although too expensive for me. Instead, I plan on getting an i3.” I believe everything is new to electric vehicles, but as David Bradford gets a job driving the i-Pace, he reveals that he was the nation's first licensed EV taxi driver. “It was 2014,” he says. “I couldn't wait to pick up my Model S and by the time I was done with it, it had done 200 miles. Its reliability too. On one charge from Maidstone I could make two returns to Heathrow and one to Gatwick. I'm looking for that return.”

He loves the Jaguar's higher driving position and thinks it's quieter, too. “I love driving EVs in London. Because when you are not moving, you are not using.” As a tough babysitter hitting sales in a green, velvet glove, it's not half bad.

Like a test drive EV

EVision is not the only company offering EV taster experiences and short-term rentals. There are others, including:

driveelectric: member government's ultra-low scheme is designed to encourage EV and sustainability. Flexible leasing allows buyers to pre-ship a range of electric vehicles before making a long-term commitment.

Electric vehicle experience center: in Milton Keynes, this is the UK's first EV 'brand' centre, where visitors can test a wide range of models and learn more about technology.

TryEV: works at home and at work test drives and demonstrations of most types of willows. His Evangelists tell you everything you need to know and can direct you to certain dealers if you decide to register for you.

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