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Are you in the market for a used electric car? If so, you’ll need a few steps to help you buy the electric vehicle that’s right for you.
What to consider when buying a used electric vehicle
1 – Find out which vehicle is right for you
Take a look at the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt. The Leaf vehicle is purely electric and has a range of approximately 100 miles, depending on driving habits and conditions. The Volt vehicle is an electric vehicle that comes with a gasoline engine as a backup. The combination of the two allows the gas to travel 300 miles. The Volt should be used more as a primary vehicle. The Leaf works much better for a commuter vehicle.
2 – Where are you headed?
It is important to consider where you are going if you plan to buy a used electric vehicle. After all, you need to be where the juice is. For example, if you’re looking to go out in the woods or visit family, you may run out of energy before you know it.
3 – Contact a new vehicle dealer
It’s not a bad idea to call new car dealers to see if they have used electric vehicles. If there is a waiting list, you may have to pay a little money to be put on it. This is something to consider, but it could definitely work in your favor.
4 – Examine the area in which you live
It’s not uncommon to find people who bought an electric car and don’t have the right place to park them every night. Your vehicle will need to be plugged in every night. And, if you live in an apartment complex, you may be out of luck.
5 – How is the guarantee?
It is not yet known if the vehicle will be part of the Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle programs, but it likely will. See what your vehicle’s coverage will be once you’ve bought it used. Hybrid vehicle batteries are warranted for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
6 – Get vehicle battery information
It’s important that you learn as much as you can about your vehicle’s battery, including what could harm it. For example, hot weather could be harder on battery life than cold weather, which is something to keep in mind when shopping for a used vehicle. Remember, if a battery ages and is used regularly, it will lose its capacity. Although an electric vehicle does not have many kilometers, it does not mean that the battery lasts a long time.
7 – Prepare for disappointments
Always keep this in mind: the first generation electric vehicles will have some problems with them. After all, the technology is new and mass produced. There are likely to be issues with them that will eventually be resolved. Hence the need for warranties, especially with first generation cars!
8 – Rent an electric vehicle
You can find car rental agencies that have cars for rent. Consider renting one to see what it would be like to live with this type of vehicle before spending your hard-earned money on one.
One last fact about electric cars: When you buy an electric vehicle, you’ll still need to follow the steps that come with it. What does that mean?
A – Try it
B – Have the vehicle inspected
C – Get a vehicle history report
Why? Used electric vehicles are like other used cars. Never take chances with a large investment!