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Editorial
The used EV buyer’s guide: battery health first, mileage second
Degradation runs about 1.8% a year, warranties transfer, and a 90,000-mile car with a healthy pack beats a garage queen that fast-charged in Phoenix. The checklist, in the right order.
A used electric car tells its story differently from a used gas car. There are no oil leaks or knocking sounds; the condition lives inside the battery pack and the software — and a normal test drive won’t fully reveal it. The checklist below is ordered by what actually matters.
1. Battery health — State of Health first
The battery is the single most expensive part of the car, worth 30–40% of the vehicle’s original value. Most packs degrade about 1.8% per year; many retain 80–90% capacity after 8–10 years, with typical degradation of 10–15% after 5–7 years. Get a real diagnostic reading of State of Health (SoH), not the dashboard’s range estimate — the “guess-o-meter” is optimistic or pessimistic depending on recent driving, while an SOH reading measures pack capacity directly. The rule of thumb: 80–100% is the green zone, 75–79% is caution (local driving only, price it accordingly), and below 75% is a walk-away unless the discount is steep and you understand pack replacement options.
2. Remaining battery warranty
Most EVs carry battery warranties of around 8 years or 100,000 miles — confirm it transfers to the second owner and that it’s still active. A live warranty alone can be worth thousands, because out-of-warranty pack replacement typically runs $5,000 to more than $16,000.
3. Charging compatibility and port
Older EVs may charge slowly or lack DC fast charging entirely — a dealbreaker for road trips. Check the port (CCS, NACS, CHAdeMO), the car’s maximum charging speed, and what cable comes with it. A used car with the wrong connector for your local network is a problem no discount fixes.
4. Mileage — but differently than gas cars
Mileage tells you surprisingly little about a used EV on its own. A 90,000-mile car with strong battery health is a better buy than a low-mileage one that was fast-charged often, stored in extreme heat, or damaged in an accident. What matters: climate history, charging history, and whether the cooling system was maintained.
5. The rest of the car still counts
Software support (infotainment performance, over-the-air updates), tires — EVs wear them faster because of their weight — suspension, brakes, and the battery cooling system. Maintenance costs run roughly 50% lower than gasoline cars, but inspect the consumables. And choose slightly more range than your daily need: cold weather, speed, and cabin heating all eat into the figure on the window sticker.
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How this story was filed
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