Buying a used electric vehicle

This year has seen a huge boom in electric motors. More and more people own or want to own an electric vehicle for all the solid advantages it has to offer. It's green, quiet, reliable and much more... However, because of its high purchase price, some buyers prefer to go for second-hand electric vehicles or long-term leases. Here's some advice on buying a good second-hand electric vehicle.

Why buy a used electric vehicle?

Firstly, a second-hand electric car offers significant savings in the long term. On the one hand, it saves on fuel, and with fuel prices rising all the time, that's not an insignificant detail. Secondly, it saves on more affordable insurance. Finally, it requires little maintenance compared with a combustion vehicle (petrol, diesel or gas).

The electric vehicle is the vehicle of the future. It's a zero-emission vehicle that doesn't emit any CO2 when it's running (which means you're eligible for state aid), which means better air quality. Finally, it's a silent car, making virtually no noise when it's running.

Which used electric vehicle should I buy?

Determine your needs

First of all, you need to decide how you're going to use it. Equipped with batteries, an electric car is perfectly suited to everyday journeys, such as the trip to the office, the trip to the shops, etc. On the other hand, if you want to make long city-to-city journeys by car, a second-hand electric car, which has a fairly limited range, may not be the best choice.

Only Tesla's models, which have a much better range than conventional used electric vehicles, will be suitable for heavy drivers.

The main electric vehicle models

Renault Zoé and Nissan Leaf are two models that are very easy to find on the used electric car market because they are so popular. Then there are other models in the same price bracket, such as the Citroën C-Zéro, Peugeot ION and Kia Soul EV. Finally, at slightly higher prices, you'll find the BMW i3, or the famous Tesla models.

Choose models that are well known on the electric car market, and that are easy to maintain.

What should I look out for when buying a used electric vehicle?

Mileage

As with any second-hand vehicle purchase, you should always check the mileage (compare with the odometer and the service book). On a second-hand electric car, unlike a combustion engine vehicle, the mileage will always be low, and it's possible to find one with around 10,000 km on the odometer. Because electric cars are designed for daily use, they never travel very far.

The state of the battery

This is an essential element of a used electric car, as it determines the distance you can cover on a single charge. It's difficult to give a precise figure for the loss of capacity of an electric car battery, so the best advice is to test the car you want to buy to judge its range for yourself. Test it over as long a distance as possible.

Recharging

Before you buy your second-hand electric vehicle, find out about existing recharging solutions. As with most electric vehicle owners, you can charge it at home or at your place of work using a conventional plug. However, make sure you have all the equipment you need to charge your used electric vehicle, and check that it's in good condition by testing it before you buy.

Of course, you can also recharge your used electric car outdoors at the public charging points provided for this purpose. Recharging time depends on the power available at the charging point.

1,000 for the purchase of a used electric vehicle

A few days ago, the Minister for Transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, announced "an ecological bonus of 1,000 euros for the purchase of a second-hand electric vehicle", with no means test. This aid has been introduced with the aim of boosting and doubling sales of second-hand electric cars.

As part of this recovery plan, there are also plans to expand the network of recharging stations, with the aim of reaching a target of 100,000 recharging points by 2021.

Buy your used electric vehicle with Obvy

You can buy your used electric vehicle at a dealership. If you don't know much about vehicles, this will give you the opportunity to talk to experts in the field.

You can also buy your second-hand car on classified ad sites, between private individuals, where prices will be lower than at a dealership, and secure your transaction with Obvy and its system of funds segregation.

When you make a purchase, your funds will remain secure in a digital safe until the transaction is finalised. Everything is done directly on Obvy - no cheques, cash or direct transfers to the seller's account! At this stage, the funds are securely held in escrow, so you can test drive and check out the vehicle with complete peace of mind. If you don't like the vehicle, you can always cancel your offer to buy, free of charge of course, and if you do like the vehicle, a simple scan of the seller's QR code will immediately transfer the funds to their Obvy balance.