Prices of used electric cars are approaching parity with ICE. Which means now is the time to buy a used EV
There’s no denying the used electric car market is in turmoil at the moment. Continuing uncertainty over future legislation over the sales of new EVs is giving consumers cold feet – and this is impacting the values of used models, which in many cases are depreciating faster than a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra can get around the Nurburgring.
Now, while that’s bad news for the original owners left wincing at the pain inflicted on their wallets, it’s great for used buyers in the market for an all-electric bargain. From superminis to SUVs, there are now some seriously temptingly priced pre-owned models cluttering the classifieds and filling-up forecourts.
Look carefully and you’ll find there’s a huge variety of models on offer, including many long-range machines offering an easy 250 miles of real-world range and rapid charging, all for usefully under £20,000.
Of course, many EV sceptics are wary of the potential pitfalls of electric car technology, but overall they’re relatively simple machines – an electric motor has only a small number of moving parts compared with thousands inside a combustion engine – and reliability shouldn’t be a worry.
Electric cars can also be much cheaper to run, especially if you can charge at home. And while the public charging network isn’t cheap, it is expanding all the time meaning range anxiety is slowly becoming a thing of the past.
That said, these are still sophisticated vehicles, so there are some precautions you should take before handing over your hard-earned cash. For instance, while modern EV batteries are proving to be robust and long-lived (so don’t be afraid of high-mileage cars), we’d recommend you get a report on the charging history and state of health for the battery of any car you’re considering.
With that in mind, sit back and relax as we reveal our 10 favourite used EVs that will help you do your bit for the planet as well as your bank account.
