Buying a Used Electric Car: 5 Mistakes to Avoid
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The electric vehicle has several advantages. Besides that An electric vehicle (EV) pollutes three times less during its life cycle than a thermal one in France, one of the advantages that should not be overlooked is that electric vehicles have slower discount than equivalent combustion vehicles. This is because EVs quickly lose value on average in the first two years before the process slows down significantly. Then it becomes profitable to buy or sell a used electric vehicle (VEO).
Thus, the VEO market is expanding, opening up great opportunities. However, you must remain vigilant when purchasing a used electric vehicle. Here are a few mistakes to avoid.
Used electric car: do not trust the assortment declared by the manufacturer
While the vehicle's initial range gives an idea of the performance that can be achieved when buying a new car, the actual range can be very different even when we consider two identical models.
Factors affecting autonomy are:
- Number of cycles performed
- Mileage
- Conducted interview
- Car environment: climate - parking (outside or inside)
- Charging methods used: repeated high power charges or regular battery charging up to 100% is more "harmful". Therefore, it is recommended to perform slow charging up to 80%.
Take for example a new electric car with a range of 240 km. After several years of driving, its actual range under normal conditions can be around 75%. The number of kilometers that can be covered has now been increased to 180 kilometers in moderate conditions.
To get an idea of the mileage of a used electric vehicle, you can request a test that should be long enough to use a fully charged vehicle and estimate the number of kilometers traveled. Since this hypothesis is difficult to imagine, it is advisable to ask a professional like La Belle Batterie: SOH (Health status) which allows you to know about the status of the battery. La Belle Batterie provides a certificate that lets you know if the electric vehicle you are looking to buy has a good battery.
Whether you are making a purchase from a professional or an individual, you can ask them to provide you with this information. The seller will carry out battery diagnostics in just 5 minutes, and in a few days it will receive a battery certificate. This way it will send you a certificate and you can find out about the status of the battery.
Consider different ways to recharge your battery
Regardless of battery quality or characteristics, charging methods sometimes determine the choice of your used EV. Most lithium-ion models are compatible for home charging. However, it will be necessary to have your electrical installation diagnosed by a qualified technician to ensure that your installation can handle the load.
You can also install the Wallbox to charge your electric vehicle in complete safety.
If you plan on charging outdoors, you will need to check if the technology used is appropriate for your vehicle. Terminal systems are usually standard Combo CCS or CHAdeMO... Please note that from May 4, 2021, the installation of new powerful charging stations, as well as replaced charging stations. are no longer required to set the CHAdeMO standard... If the network around you consists mainly of 22 kW fast charging stations, you should go for compatible models such as the Renault Zoé.
Check the supplied charging cable.
Car charging sockets and cables must be in perfect condition. A barbed plug or twisted cable may recharge less effective or dangerously.
Price of a used electric car
Advertisements for used electric vehicles sometimes include a price tag that can hide surprises. To avoid being fooled, ask if government aid is included in the price. Some assistive products may not be applicable at the time of purchase. Once the actual price has been received, you can deduct the amount of assistance appropriate to your case.
Don't forget the cost of renting a battery, if applicable.
Some electric vehicle models were sold exclusively with battery rental. Among these models we find Renault Zoé, Twizy, Kangoo ZE or Smart Fortwo and Forfour. Today, the battery rental system is no longer relevant for almost all new models.
If you buy a used electric vehicle, including the rental of the battery, you can buy the battery back. Think again to check the latter... You'll get certificate which testifies to his health status and you can buy it back with confidence. Otherwise, you will have to pay a monthly rent. The amount of monthly payments depends on the model of the electric vehicle and the number of kilometers that cannot be exceeded.
In the medium term, it will certainly be easy to consider driving a used electric vehicle. When batteries reach a high capacity, such as 100 kWh, their lifespan is increased. With models sold between 2012 and 2016, it would be risky not to test the vehicle's battery. So beware of scams!
Preview: Krakenimages images on Unsplash
