Generally, a used electric car is a relatively reliable vehicle. However, this does not exempt you from carrying out certain checks before embarking on its acquisition. In fact, electric cars are attracting an ever-wider audience. But with a high purchase price for new ones, many motorists prefer to turn to the second-hand market. An excellent opportunity, provided you go about it in the right way… We take stock in this article!
Pay attention to the battery
If you are wondering which used electric car to choose, make your choice based on your needs in terms of space on board, number of seats or even trunk volume. But in any case, you need to check its main organ, i.e. the lithium-ion battery.
Like the majority of electric car owners, you will charge your vehicle from your home or workplace. Therefore, at the time of sale, it is imperative that the seller provides at least one charging cable and in certain cases, several, for fast charging for example. If unfortunately it does not do so, you will have to contact the manufacturer or supplier in order to acquire these precious cables.
But this is an element that should alert you, because how can the seller recharge his vehicle if he does not have this equipment on the used car he wishes to sell?
Then, you must check the condition of the battery in relation to its age and the number of kilometers announced. Let’s imagine that you want to buy a used electric car such as Nissan Leaf with 100,000 km on the clock and five years of service. It is impossible for the battery to have the same level of autonomy as when it left the factory. If this is the case, move on, the seller is not honest in his ad.
In fact, it is difficult to know precisely the condition of the battery, unless you have the possibility of carrying out various tests. That is to say, driving for a necessary period of time and over a long distance with the charged battery. The information that you will collect must be compared with the data directly provided by the manufacturer at the time of marketing. Then consider subtracting 20% of battery life to define the real value.
Once you have been able to perform this calculation, all you have to do is compare with what you observed on the vehicle. But don’t forget that after several years of use, the initially announced autonomy will be lower, the battery naturally degrades over charges and discharges.
Another possibility is to issue a battery health certificate. In fact, some companies have developed a specific box that plugs into the car’s OBD port. Then, the data is sent to the company and it establishes a certificate allowing you to know precisely the health of the battery of the electric car.
This is a particularly valuable document, whether on the buyer’s or seller’s side. Indeed, it is an additional argument for the seller to guarantee the reliability of his vehicle and sell it at the right price. For the buyer, it is a way of reassuring them with a reliable and independent analysis.
Used batteries from an electric car
Check the wearing parts of the used electric car
Before buying a used electric car, another check is necessary, this time regarding wearing parts. This is a traditional check like you can do on a thermal vehicle.
Check the quality of the brakes, wiper blades and even tires. Continue your investigations by checking the serial number directly written on the registration document and the one present on the vehicle. It is also this same verification at the registration level.
Other checks are necessary such as ensuring that the technical inspection is up to date and that the vehicle is not pledged. To do this, it’s very simple! Go to the HistoVec government website to obtain a non-pledge certificate as well as additional information on the registration document.
If the maintenance booklet is present, do not hesitate to take a look at it to keep track of the car’s regular maintenance.
Are you wondering how to buy a used electric car? First, you must check the elements mentioned above. This will give you a great starting point, but be aware that the market is full of great deals.
In fact, you will be able to access perfectly affordable vehicles with no delivery time, as is currently the case if you buy a new model. But to avoid unpleasant surprises, you cannot rush headlong into the first electric car offer you spot.
If this is the case, you expose yourself to potential major defects, whether with the motor, wearing parts or the lithium-ion battery. However, if you have to change the battery in your vehicle, be aware that this represents a significant budget.
In conclusion
The used electric car market represents an excellent opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions and save money on usage. But remember to do all the necessary checks and if in doubt, it is always better to abstain.
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