Always on the Road: Does Mileage Matter When Buying a Previously Owned Electric Car?
As the electric vehicles (EVs) demonstrate steady growth, a rapid surge in battery-powered vehicles available for sale becomes noticeable. If you’re hunting for an electric car of your dreams, you might be wondering how crucial mileage is in your decision-making process.
In a world with countless choices, finding the best alternative means comprehending what truly matters. The best-car-situation resembles a trader’s journey relying on the power of choices. For instance, meta trader 4 apk is a versatile instrument for Forex traders who don’t want to miss a chance.
This article will explore the noteworthiness of mileage when weighing the purchase of a pre-owned EV.
Should You Chase Lower Mileage?
While Tesla maintains a robust presence in the used electric car market, its widespread appeal is not inviolable. Customers today are assiduously experiencing a variety of options, revealing the changing habits of car buyers.
Mileage remains a significant aspect when making serious choices with diverse budgets in mind. Nevertheless, this feature isn’t as critical as with a customary gas-powered vehicle.
You might be looking for a car with lower mileage, but the situation is utterly different for electric cars. These vehicles are endowed with fewer moving parts, no costly engines or transmissions to fret about, and typically require easy-care maintenance. Thus, you can feel more assured that mileage is less of a concern when buying a used electric car for your personal or business needs.
Fewer Moving Parts
Internal combustion engines (ICEs) comprise a great deal of moving components, along with fluids and lubricants that require maintenance. Acquiring an ICE vehicle with over 150,000 miles can turn into a high-stakes buy, but not become as risky as in the case of a usual gas-powered vehicle.
There are more questions arising in accordance with the ICE purchase, and maintenance history is one of them. How well did the previous owner keep an eye on his car? Did he use to maintain servicing every 12 months? Was he able to top off all fluids as needed, and did he manage to replace the spark plugs regularly? These are pivotal issues affecting the lifespan of a combustion engine vehicle.
In contrast, most concerns fade away provided that you’re choosing a used electric car with a fine-tooth comb. With such an approach, issues like engine oil changes, spark plug replacements, or transmission fluid maintenance simply dissolve. By the time you get a used EV, your concerns will be mostly related to transmission and battery issues. Ultimately, a higher-mileage electric car won’t pose the same risks of component failure as a long-established gas vehicle.
Maintenance Requirements
Electric cars possess a bunch of parts that require regular upkeep, including the electric motor, suspension components, brake pads and rotors, brake lines, and tires. However, replacing customary items on a battery-powered car is more affordable than the cost of installing a new transmission in a shabby gasoline car.
Anyway, do not get your hopes up. Servicing an electric car can be costly and time-consuming as well, but that’s true of any transport. Overall, you’ll encounter fewer worries about upfront maintenance, repairs, or mileage with an EV.
Remember that all-electric cars are relatively new to the public, so we’re not entirely sure how a 10-year-old electric car may perform after reaching 300,000 miles. One practical example: a Tesla that covered one million miles in Germany eventually needed a battery replacement, but most electric cars haven’t accumulated such high mileage so far.
Battery Life
Even if you are not a car expert, battery life may bring numerous anxieties to the table. Aside from the regular maintenance for your new purchase, the battery is often the biggest question mark. Experts claim that electric car batteries typically last between 10 to 20 years. That’s significantly longer than most people keep a car, and far longer than the average lifespan of an engine.
When looking for a used electric car, consider the battery’s lifespan, as it degrades over time. Most electric cars are well-equipped with large lithium-ion batteries that power the engines instead of gasoline, but as we discussed above, batteries degrade in the long run. Just as your three-year-old iPhone probably won’t hold a charge as long as the day you got it, a worn-out electric car battery will also demonstrate reduced performance.
For example, while a new electric car can go 250 miles on a single charge, an electric car with an older battery and over 93,000 miles on the odometer won’t be able to cover this distance. Expect to get about 186 miles on a single charge due to battery degradation. That’s why Tesla Model 3 claims that after eight years or 100,000 miles, the battery can still hold 70% of its total capacity. Anyway, the sky is not the limit since technologies are enhancing every day.
Final Thoughts
So, does mileage make a big difference when it’s time to buy a used electric car? The answers are both yes and no. Total distance covered is a consideration when buying any vehicle, especially if you are keen on getting a cost-effective option. However, with many miles’ EVs, there is less to worry about compared to older-generation vehicles.
