Our investigation found that many EVs could become almost impossible to resell because of their limited battery life.
Last night, one motoring expert said customers should be wary of buying a used electric car beyond its warranty , as after that timespan there is no easy way of measuring how much the battery will degrade before it needs replacing.
While you can drive a traditional petrol or diesel car for around 200,000 miles over 14 years before the engine needs fixing or replacing, by comparison a new EV is typically guaranteed under a warranty for 100,000 miles over eight years. They are also in demand for the production of other electronics, including mobile phones and laptops.
‘The second-hand market might seem a natural place to look for an EV but unfortunately it is fraught with danger as the batteries are worth more than the car. If the battery stops working, the vehicle becomes almost worthless.’ This is due to the battery losing its efficiency, so achieves a distance of 99 miles between charges rather than the theoretical 124 miles.
Weather also plays a part in how long your battery will last and EV batteries operate best at a temperature between 25-45 degrees Celsius. Tom Barnard, of EV experts Electrifying.com, advises motorists to buy a second-hand car with a battery still under warranty. This typically covers the first eight years of motoring or 100,000 miles — whichever comes first.
Money Mail requested prices directly from Nissan and no definitive answer was given. Purchasing a battery for your second-hand electric vehicle is not an isolated cost either.