Buying a used EV in 2025? Here's what to keep in mind!

Should you buy a used electric car or a new one?

Here are 10 things to consider if you plan to buy a used electric car in 2025.

Welcome to mobility insider. In this video I want to talk about 10 important things to consider before you buy a used electric vehicle. And at the end of the video, I name my top picks in three segments if you consider buying a used electric car at a bargain price.

Electric cars are gaining popularity fast. Except for a couple of markets, sales are growing fast. In Europe about 1 in 7 new cars is fully electric.
The best reason to buy a used electric car is that in general it will be much cheaper than buying a new one.

There are many examples of electric cars which have lost half of their value after a couple of years or two thirds after 3 years. This even goes for premium brands such as Audi, Mercedes or Porsche.

If you do not necessarily want or need the latest and the newest, then buying a used electric car can be a very good and affordable choice, and often with the added benefit that early bugs have been fixed.

Why do used electric cars fall so much in price? Manufacturers selling cars in Europe need to hit a CO2 target calculated as an average CO2 emission number of all new cars sold in a specific year by the brand. In 2025 this number will be reduced by 15% compared to 2024 making it necessary to sell even more electric cars, and to achieve this, the manufacturers push sales of new EVs with big discounts and good financing offers.

What about the range? Range anxiety really is just that, anxiety – it is unlikely that you will ever have a problem. But here are the key parameters deciding your car’s range:
• the size of the battery
• the aerodynamics of the car, which is also affected by the tyre width
• the efficiency of the electric motors
• the technology on board such as a heat pump
• the outside temperature
• and your driving style.

I think you can safely buy a used electric vehicle provided you have it checked by a professional. And I would recommend you look for a vehicle with at least a 12-month warranty, and ideally the car should not be more than 2-3 years old. Then you have a good chance of inexpensive and trouble-free motoring.

Thank you for watching Mobility Insider.

Filmed in Oberaegeri in Switzerland in December 2024. Produced by DNTS Productions.

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0:00 Introduction
1:23 Why should you buy used instead of new?
2:39 Why do used EVs depreciate so much?
3:55 What are the benefits of EV vs. ICE
4:48 What are the disadvantages of EV vs. ICE
6:02 What types of EVs are available?
6:47 What is the range of a used EV?
9:55 Key points to check in a used EV
10:48 Is an older battery a risk?
11:43 What can you expect from a battery warranty?
12:32 How can I be sure the technology works as intended?
13:06 Closing comment on buying vs. leasing
13:38 My top 3 used EV picks for 2025