Our Top Tips to Buying a Used Electric Car

Guide to buying a used electric car

For a period of time, choosing to buy an electric car was a bit of a leap of faith, but now that we have had time to get to grips with electric technology and develop trust in rechargeable car batteries, EVs (electric vehicles) are becoming increasingly popular, so much so that they swiftly making their way onto the second-hand vehicle market. Particularly with government legislation putting pressure on manufacturers to develop viable electric cars, the choice of used models is continuously growing.

At Car Synergy, we have seen a growing demand for used electric cars in Wakefield, and we have begun introducing models to the selection of premium vehicles at our dealership. Here are the main things you may want to consider before buying a used EV.

Is an electric car the right choice for me?

To answer this question, you will need to think about how you will be using your car and where you are going to park it. If you mainly use your car locally, perhaps doing the odd long trip at the weekend, EVs will make a lot of sense, as you can drive around and charge the vehicle in the evening when you return. If you regularly take long journeys, however, a plug-in hybrid might be a better option, as you’ll have a petrol or diesel engine to fall back on if needed. That being said, EV charging points are increasing in number, and with apps that allow you to check your nearest working charging locations, there is less chance of running out of fuel.

Will I need a home charging point?

As mentioned, there are more and more public EV charging points popping up all over the place, so it is not strictly necessary to have home charging facilities, however, it will make life a lot easier. Being able to plug in at home will be more convenient, enabling you to recharge your vehicle overnight and it can also save you money. You can install a wallbox charger that offers faster top-up times than most public options and you may even be eligible for a government grant to get a discount on your installation. It will also be more cost-effective in the long run as electricity prices are lower at home and with many charging systems you can set up timers to top your vehicle up to the prime battery level.

What type of EV is right for me?

There are several types of electric vehicles to choose from and it is important to consider what will best meet your needs. BEVs (battery-electric vehicles) is the type that tends to come to most people’s minds when thinking about electric cars. These run on pure electricity via a large battery pack or electric motor. The main consideration with BEVs is their range as they have no backup ICE, so you’ll need to be aware of nearby charging points. This was more of a concern with early EVs however, as advancements in EV technology have seen a dramatic increase in battery range, with some cars capable of up to 400 miles on a single charge. 

PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) combine a petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor and a smaller battery. Vehicles can first use the electric power and when battery cells become drained, the ICE (internal combustion engine) will cover the additional mileage.

REx (range-extenders) are similar but instead of using petrol or diesel fuel to power the vehicle like PHEVs, they use the ICE only to power the battery in order to maintain its minimum charge level until it is charged.
Take a look at the current range of used cars in Wakefield at Car Synergy to find out if we have any electric options in stock to suit you!