With gas prices still hovering at higher than normal levels, more drivers are considering a switch to electric vehicles.
As of July 21, the average price of regular gas is $4.44, according to the American Automobile Association. While prices are down more than 50 cents from a month ago, they’re still well above the $3.17 average from the same time last year.
Drivers’ newfound interest in electric cars isn’t just focused on the latest models. Interest in used EVs has surged, too, said a report from research firm Recurrent.
Last year, half of electric vehicle shoppers said they would consider buying used, said surveys from Recurrent. This year, 80% of EV shoppers said they would consider purchasing used EVs.
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Higher gas prices, supply shortages for new cars and several new model releases have contributed to the surge of interest in used EVs, said Andrew Garberson, head of marketing at Recurrent.
“Once a secondary market is established, it does not normally disappear,” said Garberson in a statement.
Tips for buying a used electric car
Some of the rules for buying a used electric car are no different than when choosing a used vehicle running on gas.
“The same as with gasoline, or fuel cell or hybrids or any kind of car, really, diesel, whatever it is. The newer (the) used car, the better off you’re gonna be,” said Brian Moody, executive editor with Kelly Blue Book.
Then there are specific factors if you want to go electric, whether you’re buying a new or used model. Do you have a space to charge your car? Does the car offer the range you need for your everyday life?
Joseph Yoon, Edmunds’ consumer insights analyst, said one of the biggest challenges in buying a used EV is finding one in the first place. Because EVs are a new category, there aren’t as many available as more popular and longstanding gas-powered vehicles.
“With such limited options, you may not find the car that’s going to fit your needs as a driver, whether that’s size, whether that’s range, or a combination of factors,” said Yoon.
What are the most popular used EV brands?
Recurrent’s research also listed the top five best selling EV car brands in the US in 2021. Surprisingly, none of them are high-end Tesla models, a brand that has become synonymous with electric vehicles.
Many of cheaper used EVs can also be found online on car sites like Carvana and Carmax.There are selling at substantial discounts that are nowhere near the average $43,990 for a basic Tesla Model 3.
Those top five EV brands and how many electric cars they sold in 2021 are:
Ford F-Series: 726,004
Dodge Ram: 569,388
Chevy Silverado: 529,765
Toyota RAV4: 407,739
Honda CR-V: 361,271
How long do electric cars last?
The batteries on EVs, just like in any other device, will degrade over time. How much it degrades depends on different factors including its age.
On average, the range an EV battery can handle will degrade by about 2.3% every year, according to GeoTab, an analytics firm which studied the health battery of 6,300 electric vehicles.
For example, if you buy a new EV with 200 miles of range, you will lose roughly five miles of range after one year.
Yoon said that type of dip in range is typically not that big a deal, but all depends on the drivers’ needs.
“If that final 10% is going to make the difference between you making it home versus not, then you should look at a car with a better range,” said Yoon.
How do you charge an electric vehicle at home?
Moody also advises buyers ask how the used EV was charged. Some manufacturers like Kia note frequent use of fast charging systems can degrade batteries over time, he said.
“If I was buying a used car, I’d want to know was this ever used at a fast charger or was this always just plugged in your home overnight, and it charged more slowly,” Moody said.
Some brands like Ford also offer nationwide networks of charging stations, so you can plan a cross-country trip or a shorter jaunt entirely around where you can juice up quickly nearby.
Consumers who want a taste of the electric experience don’t have to buy a vehicle that’s fully electric. There are also plug-in hybrids, or PHEVs, a type of vehicle that can run on an electric motor for short distances, then automatically shift to an internal combustion engine that runs on gas.
Like hybrids and standard EVs, PHEVs can recharge batteries through regenerative braking or other charging equipment.
“You’d get an idea about how an electric car is gonna work for you,” said Moody on choosing a plug-in hybrid. “If it doesn’t work, then it doesn’t matter, you still have this (hybrid). If it does work, great, and the next time you buy one, you just buy a fully electric car and never even worry about it again.”
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @BrettMolina.