Why buy a used electric car?
Perhaps your greatest opportunity to reduce your household's carbon footprint and save money.
Joe's calculator shows if this could work for you.
THE BIG CONSIDERATIONS
Range of Lower Priced Electric Cars is Limited
For regular short trips - school run, shopping commuting, etc, particularly in town this can work, but be aware that range on a full charge of 5-8 year old cars could be 60-100 miles in summer and 50-70 on cold winter days. This is often sufficient range for a 2nd car, but not good for a weekend away! Driving style - particularly speed has a big effect on the range of the car. At town speeds and in traffic the range is greatest.
Assess what range you need carefully
There is an industry trying to persuade you to spend £100's per month for an electric car with hundreds of miles of range and Tonnes of embedded carbon, that especially with a second car, you may not need!
The driving range of affordable used electric cars is increasing fast.
In 2021, a used electric car with 100 Miles range (less on very cold days) cost £10,000-£12,000, now in 2024 car with that range is available for £8,000-£10,000. Deals are getting better!
Home charging
Installing a home charger
Necessary to realise significant fuel cost savings as electricity is expensive at public chargers.
Typically, home chargers will cost around £1000 to install as significant electrical work is involved
Often the cost of charger installation is recovered in fuel cost savings in year 1.
Are there grants for installing home chargers?
This varies by country in the UK and Republic of Ireland, few if any grants remain available for homeowners. There are schemes in some places supporting installation in flats and rental properties, and grants for business installing charge points for use of employees.
Can I install my own charger?
Qualified electrician must install the normal 7kW home chargers, Low power chargers that plug into a conventional 13 Amp socket may work for occasional charges but are not suitable for regular outdoor use.
What about the battery in an older Electric car
How long will the battery last?
Lithium Ion Batteries used in electric cars age with time and use, and the range of a car will diminish over the years. However this aging is predictable and data is showing that batteries of older cars are lasting really well. Usable life of original batteries is 8-10 years plus but with range of the car decreasing in later years.
Can the battery be replaced?
In general this is not occurring, as there has been little need, and the cost of new batteries is prohibitive. A market may develop for used and recycled batteries as the number of used vehicles increases.
driving electric cars
Are they easy to drive?
Really easy! - Same as a petrol or diesel car with an automatic transmission. There is no clutch or gearstick. It takes a few hours to get used to not reaching for the clutch pedal! The simplicity makes parking etc, easier. Acceleration is great at low speeds, adequate at higher speeds.
Will I run out of juice and get stranded?
Planning and care is needed but the car constantly displays its remaining range to the driver, often with information on location on nearby public chargers. Regular runs are not problematic. Cars give warning messages when charge level gets low, and membership of a breakdown scheme (AA, RAC etc) can include getting your car to a charger if battery is completely exhausted.
Can I tow a trailer with my electric car?
Generally this is not encouraged.
Use with a light trailer is OK. Check Vehicle handbook for details on any particular model. There is advice on the Web also.
Depreciation
Depreciation is high on new cars, and electric cars took 6 of the top 10 places in this 'Top Ten'
The 10 fastest-depreciating cars 2023 | What Car?
Most new electric cars are leased, often on company car schemes offered by employers, so are entering the used market at 3, 4, or 5 years old at the end of the lease. With many potential buyers less knowledgeable about them, and not yet equipped with a home charger, they are often retaining less value than petrol or diesel versions.
That makes them attractive as a used buy, especially for those (like Joe) intending to run them for many years, saving on fuel, maintenance, and carbon emissions. To maximise the environmental benefits from an electric car, we need it to be used (replacing a necessary petrol or diesel) for as many years and miles as possible.
servicing and repairs
Options here may be more limited than with a Petrol or Diesel car as many smaller workshops will be unable to work on the high voltage electric components - Motor, controller and Lithium Battery. You may have to rely on the Nissan, Renault or other official dealer in your area. Labour rates may be higher than in the smaller often independent garages that many use for maintaining older cars.
Smaller and Independent Workshops
Technicians require some specialised training, to work safely on some parts of an electric car, Qualifications are available from Technical Colleges, as well as manufacturers and more garages are able to take on those special jobs, however many repairs are likely to involve only the mechanical and 12V electrical parts that all garages can repair.
Government Scheme - Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA)
There are as yet limited members which can be searched here
Find an EVA Member - Electric Vehicle Approved (evapproved.co.uk)