Ultimate Guide: How to Find the Best Used Electric Car

We’ve already talked about the advantages of owning an electric vehicle (they’re cheaper to operate, better for the environment and easy to maintain, among other reasons). Those same benefits apply to pre-owned electric cars, too—though shopping for the best used EV certainly requires you to do extra-credit homework since you’ve got to consider more than just driving range, charge time and price.

How should you buy a used electric car? What’s important? Is the EV lifestyle really for you? This shopper’s guide will help you navigate the sometimes-chaotic world of buying a used electric SUV or car.

What to Look for When Buying a Used EV

Does Range Really Matter?

Most people in America don’t need an electric vehicle with a lot of range; the average driver goes 35 miles per day. Every used electric car has more than 35 miles of range, which should be adequate enough for drivers commuting to and from Miami and the suburbs, for instance. If this sounds like you, then you’re the perfect candidate to adopt the EV lifestyle and buy a city driver or daily commuter.

Of course, not everyone falls into that category. If you’re the type to take the occasional road trip, or if you don’t live or work within close proximity of a public EV charging station, you might want to consider a used plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), like a used BMW i3 with Range Extender. PHEVs have a shorter range, but their gas engines—in the i3 REX’s case, small “motorbike” engines—take proper unleaded and charge the battery while you drive.

Which will it be: A full battery electric vehicle or a mix of old and new tech?

Avoid “Carvana Electric Cars”

Buying a used car, sight unseen, is a risk. Buying a used electric car without checking it out first is even more of a risk. You should inspect the charging cable and charge port, assess the battery’s state of health (with an OBD II tool and app or by driving and monitoring its effective mile range), and evaluate all the features work.

You don’t have the opportunity to do these tasks before purchasing an EV online at places like Carvana. You have to take them—and most importantly, the people who sold their EV to Carvana—by their word. These online used car stores are buying up used EVs, left and right, and they aren’t necessarily taking their time to inspect and recondition vehicles before relisting them.

If possible, always purchase, in person, from a used electric car dealership near you.

Be Cautious with Older “First-Gen” Models

You’ll likely find a lot of older Nissan LEAFs for sale, but be cautious! Old-generation LEAFs have a very limited driving range to start, and because they don’t have any liquid-cooled battery systems, their batteries degrade much quicker, especially in very hot climates. Once their batteries dip under 70%, you may be limited to 50 or 60 miles of real-life range, depending on the model year, climate, temperature, and other driving conditions.

If you really want to buy the cheapest used electric car under $20k, we recommend pushing your budget to the limit and finding a certified pre-owned EV or at least a used EV that still has a lengthy battery warranty (typically 8 years on new models).

What affects battery life?

When it comes to electric car battery degradation, or EV battery state of health (SOH), several things can speed up that process, including:

• Draining the battery to 0% all the time.
• Keeping a vehicle at 0% charge for a long time.
• Charging to 100% and letting the vehicle sit, unused, for a long time.
• Constantly operating at very low (under 10%-20%) or very high (over 80%) states of charge.
• Exclusively using DC Fast charging.
• Frequent exposure to extreme temperatures, especially heat (see below)

On average, EV batteries made in and after 2014-2015 have been shown to last longer than early-tech EV batteries, so take model year into account while you search. (After 100,000 miles, most modern electric vehicles will have 90% battery life.)

Battery Leasing

Years ago, people could buy a new EV and “lease” the battery. This isn’t a common thing these days, but it’s important to know that some niche, pre-owned EV models (Renault Zoe, for instance) may have that clause built in. And you don’t want to buy an electric vehicle that doesn’t come with the battery, right?

Vehicle History is Incredibly Important

Before making a purchase, viewing the history of any used vehicle is essential. A vehicle history report enables you to identify potential red flags, such as vehicles with multiple owners over a short period or no service records.

It’s even more important to review a used electric vehicle’s history with a fine-toothed comb. Because EVs don’t require oil changes, they may have shorter or less thorough service records, which can make it difficult to assess how well it was maintained.

So, just by looking at its history, how can you figure out when a pre-owned EV might be a lemon disguised as a zero-emission vehicle?

It’s all about location. 

Contrary to popular belief, electric vehicle batteries may actually fare better in colder climates (just look at the EV ownership rates in cold-weather countries like Norway, Iceland and Sweden). While colder temperatures definitely contribute to lower driving range, these are typically temporary.

On the other hand, used electric vehicles that were owned and operated in hotter regions (not necessarily humid) should raise an eyebrow. Studies suggest that, when frequently exposed to high ambient temperatures, EV batteries and, for that matter, all batteries will undergo chemical reactions that permanently reduce battery life.

If you buy a used EV for sale, take note of where it’s been living, not necessarily how many miles are on its odometer. Be extra-cautious of older, pre-owned electric vehicles originating from dry-heat places like Arizona, Southern Nevada, Texas, Southern California, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Any pre-owned EV from these regions should be priced lower; if it’s not, haggle down or walk away.

No Federal Tax Credit for You

When you buy a new EV, you may be eligible to receive a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 (as of August 2022). This only applies to eligible new models and their first owners; as a used EV shopper, you cannot take advantage of the federal tax break.

However, that doesn’t mean you don’t have other ways to reduce your costs! Utility companies may have rebate programs for EV or EV charger purchases, and they almost certainly have special Time-of-Use rates to allow you to save money when charging your vehicle overnight. Speak with your electric utility company for details, and check with your state for any EV-purchase programs.

EV Charging

Your EV battery will last longer if it’s charged via a Level 2 home charger. DC Fast charging is convenient, but these chargers can reduce your battery’s effective state of health when used too often.

That said, as you search for used EV cars, make sure any on your short list have the most modern charging plug. CHAdeMO was one of the first types of American EV charger types, but that tech is quickly becoming obsolete, and these types of plugs are unlikely to be offered at future public EV charging stations. (Nissan LEAFs utilize CHAdeMO plugs, as an example.)

What is the better option? Pick a used electric car that runs CCS, or “Combined Charging System.” CCS is the standard for Level I and Level II EV chargers, as it allows for AC and DC charging. (Used BMW i3 models utilize CSS plugs, as an example.)

Read more about charging your electric vehicle.

Now You’re Ready to Go Carbon Neutral

Whether you buy a BMW i3 used or a new BMW i4, you’re making a great investment. Not only will you save money by canceling out gas and oil change costs, but you’ll also be contributing to a cleaner, greener future for the planet.

Looking for a good used electric vehicle in Miami? Visit Braman BMW at 2060 Biscayne Blvd to shop our selection, and we’ll help you get the best price on a used i3 or any other type of EV. Contact us at (786) 235-9765 to get a quote, schedule a test drive, or learn more about owning an electrified vehicle!