Buying a used EV is different from buying a petrol car.
Mileage matters less. Battery condition matters more. And the biggest mistakes come from misinterpreting the data you already have.
This guide explains how to evaluate a used EV in practical terms — focusing on usability, trade-offs and long-term ownership.
A good used EV balances all three.
Optimising only one often leads to regret.
Battery health (State of Health or SoH) shows how much capacity remains compared to when the vehicle was new.
However, SoH alone does not determine usability. Two vehicles with similar SoH can perform very differently depending on usage patterns, battery balance and generation.
When buying, battery health should be interpreted alongside price, expected range and ownership risk.
Variation is normal. Context matters more than the number itself.
Range is a band, not a single number.
The range displayed on the dashboard reflects recent driving habits, not true capacity. This is often called the “guess-o-meter”.
Real usability depends on:
A listing showing 120km does not guarantee it meets your daily needs.
Fast charging does not automatically damage a battery. What matters is the pattern.
Occasional fast charging is normal. Consistent heavy fast charging combined with heat can accelerate degradation.
Fast charge history should be interpreted alongside age, mileage and condition.
Patterns matter more than totals.
A replaced battery can significantly increase value, but documentation is critical. A newer battery in an older vehicle can be a strong value opportunity.
Understanding the history of a replacement helps clarify if the vehicle is essentially "refurbished" or just repaired. Always ask for certificates or service records.
Most EV batteries are covered for 8 years or 160,000 km. However, the fine print often dictates a threshold (usually 70% SoH) before a claim is valid.
Buying a car just inside its warranty period provides a critical "buffer" for the first few years of your ownership.
Think beyond today's range.
There is rarely a perfect used EV. Common trade-offs include:
Understanding trade-offs helps you avoid over-optimising a single metric.
Best choice depends on priorities.
Comparing listings only on range
Ignoring fast charging patterns
Underestimating winter range
Choosing lowest price without context
Focusing on a single vehicle too early
This checklist helps structure conversations with sellers and keeps your evaluation focused on what truly matters.
Motorly is designed for the stage where you are comparing multiple vehicles and trying to understand trade-offs.
Motorly supports the decision, not just the data.
Buying a used EV is less about finding perfect numbers and more about understanding context.
The goal is not certainty — it is clarity.
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Read More →If you have a listing or battery screenshot, you can analyse it to estimate real-world range, ownership risk and trade-offs before you buy.
Analyse a Listing