{"id":2614,"date":"2021-01-27T13:48:38","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T13:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/?p=1335765"},"modified":"2021-01-27T13:48:38","modified_gmt":"2021-01-27T13:48:38","slug":"buying-a-second-hand-ev-do-these-5-things-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=2614","title":{"rendered":"Buying a second-hand EV? Do these 5 things first"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to SHIFT Basics, a collection of tips, explainers, guides, and advice to keep you up to speed with mobility tech.<\/em><\/p>\n

While owning an electric vehicle is still far from the norm in most of the world, they\u2019ve been around long enough for there to be a decent amount of options now available on the second-hand market.c<\/p>\n

Buying a used EV isn\u2019t exactly the same as buying a regular used car, and there are some things to be aware of. Assuming you\u2019ve already decided what EV you\u2019re going to buy, here are five things to consider before you part with your cash.<\/p>\n

Check its battery health<\/h2>\n

This is the most obvious one of the lot, so let\u2019s get it out the way first. If you\u2019re buying a used EV, be sure to check its battery health.<\/p>\n

You want to be sure it charges correctly and at optimal speed. You also want to make sure you know how much charge the battery can hold, and how that will affect its total range. To learn more about EV batteries, check out this helpful explainer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"car,
Credit: Wikimedia – CC<\/a><\/figcaption>
<\/i><\/a>A cross-section of the Nissan Leaf\u2019s battery packs mounted in the floor pan of the car. Nissan Leafs fast-charge using the CHAdeMO standard.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Early EVs, such as passively cooled Nissan Leafs, are known to suffer some battery degradation, and could have lost as much as 8%<\/a> of range over 10 years. The older the EV, and the more charge cycles it has been subject to, the more likely that its range has decreased slightly from when it was brand new.<\/p>\n

As technology improves, battery degradation is becoming less of a concern<\/a>, but if you\u2019re buying an EV that was made in the past 10 years it\u2019s definitely something to check. If the battery is beyond its useful life, it can be replaced, but it doesn\u2019t come cheap, that\u2019s assuming you can find someone to do the work<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Get up to speed with how it charges<\/h2>\n

Before you buy any electric vehicle, new or used, it\u2019s important to know exactly how it charges. Also be sure to check what cables come with the car, and what chargers they\u2019re compatible with.<\/p>\n

[Read: How Netflix shapes mainstream culture, explained by data<\/span><\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n

If it\u2019s your first EV it makes sense to get a dedicated charger installed at your home if you have space. Most manufacturers gave grants and subsidies for new EV buyers to install charging hardware at their homes, but no such subsidies exist for second-hand electric vehicles.<\/p>\n

\"ccs,
Credit: Wikimedia CC <\/a><\/figcaption>
<\/i><\/a>CCS charger (pictured left), compared to Type 2 (right). Two large direct current (DC) pins are added below on the CCS, and the four alternating current (AC) pins for neutral and three-phase are removed. The three remaining connections on the CCS connector are there so the car and charging unit can communicate and ensure safe charging.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Check out our other SHIFT basics which explain fast-charging standards CCS<\/a> and CHAdeMO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dive into warranties<\/h2>\n

Depending on the EV that you plan to buy, you might be able to acquire or extend its warranty. EVs typically have separate warranties, one that covers the battery and drivetrain, and another that covers the mechanical components like suspension and chassis.<\/p>\n

In some cases, an EV could have an eight year or 100,000-mile warranty on its battery, which can be transferred to the vehicle\u2019s next owner so long as the vehicle itself still satisfies the criteria.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the possibility to buy third-party extended warranties, if you want peace of mind and are willing to pay for it. But first things first, check what warranty the used EV actually comes with, and take it from there. Chances are it\u2019ll still have a decent amount of time left if you\u2019re buying a low mileage car that\u2019s not too old.<\/p>\n

Check its service history<\/h2>\n

Even though EVs have far fewer mechanical components than combustion engine cars, and are \u2014 generally speaking \u2014 less likely to go wrong, they\u2019re not immune to the occasional hiccup.<\/p>\n

As with buying any used car, you should check the vehicle\u2019s service history. Pay special attention to any significant work that may have been done in the past to fix broken components. Also consider what the implications could be if that component fails again \u2014 is it covered by the warranty or will it leave you out of pocket?<\/p>\n