Whether you’re considering an electric car because of gas prices or climate change, there’s probably never been a better time to buy a used EV, despite the Trump administration’s repeal of the clean used vehicle tax credit last year. When we started this ongoing series looking at used EV options, the original idea was to see what was available at bargain-basement prices. But today, we’re looking at the $20,000-$25,000 price bracket, and we’re well out of the basement, with thousands of electric cars to choose from across the country.
If you have He only spends $5,000 on an EVyou’re looking at very old models with smaller batteries that never had that much range even when they were new. But with four to five times that amount, the net is much, much wider. Buyers can start to get a little picky here, especially as older leased cars begin to flood dealer lots this year.
For those on the market, it helps that EVs face lower emissions than equivalent hydrocarbon-powered vehicles. All these incentives to the initial buyer are passed on to future owners, but according to the Deloitte report, EV stocks are performing worse than expected. Deloitte says that while I expect most Ars Technica readers will see the potential, “many US consumers remain wary of range, charging time, cost, battery replacement cost and public charging.” Changing that will require automakers and car dealers to do a better job explaining battery life and range, according to the consulting firm.
The above isn’t great if you’re trying to sell an EV, but it’s good news if you’re in the market for a car. You’ll get more of a car for the same cost—with a better spec, a newer model year, or fewer miles on the odometer already than spending the same money on something that needs gas.
The new $25,000 price cap also means you can focus on what badge the car wears: Do you want something basic, maybe with less mileage, or something better or more premium?
