TCS guide: Second-hand electric cars: What should I look for when buying an electric vehicle?

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I want to buy an electric car. But a new car is too expensive for me. What should I pay attention to in order to avoid a bad surprise when buying a second-hand electric car?
Martin Döbeli, Lenzburg AG

There is no guarantee against unpleasant surprises with second-hand vehicles. But with the tips below, you can have peace of mind when searching for an e-event that suits you. Because with the explosion in new electric cars, the second-hand market is also growing.

The important thing in electric cars is their batteries. Today, an eight-year or 160,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty is common for most new cars. If you have an older vehicle, you should take into account that the battery production cannot be compared to current new cars in terms of range and charging capacity.

Be sure to take a test drive

However, a test drive will give you clarity about the condition of the battery. Use most of the battery empty and you’ll get a real feel for whether the vehicle you want actually has the range you’re hoping for. Then, when charging (for example at a public charging station), measure the amount of electricity charged. This way you can see how much capacity the battery still needs to have. However, allow for charge losses of about 15 percent.

It should also be noted that an electric car with 150 kilometers per hour and a range of 100,000 kilometers is charged approximately twice as often as a car with a range of 300 kilometers and the same mileage. This is also reflected in battery aging: long-range electric cars generally wear out less quickly and therefore retain their value.

A ten-year-old small electric car may still have a range of 80 kilometers, down from the original 120 kilometers, while an electric sedan of the same age may still have a range of 300 kilometers, down from 330 kilometers. Thanks to major advances in battery technology, batteries are now lasting longer, so you can expect significantly less wear, tear and loss overall from newer electric vehicles.

Source: Blick