What Should You Consider Before Buying a Used Electric Vehicle?

PARTICULARITIES OF USED ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Although the mechanics of an EV are much simpler than those of a gasoline-powered car, there are a number of elements that require additional verification. When doing your research, here's what you should check or have checked by a mechanic who's familiar with electric vehicles.

Battery

Check the battery's state of health (SoH) or, in other words, the battery life. The SoH indicates the battery's remaining capacity (in percent) compared with its initial capacity, which was 100% when new. Various diagnostic tools and software can provide information on the battery's SoH, or you can ask a garage specializing in electric cars to carry out a general assessment.

The battery can deteriorate as a result of various factors, mainly the type of charging and its use. This is the most important aspect to validate for an EV (see section on health and battery here).

Other parts around the battery can also be checked, such as the BMS (battery management system) which monitors and manages the battery.

Warranty

Normally, a recent used vehicle will still be covered by a battery warranty, since this is usually 8 years/160,000 km. This may vary from brand to brand. Some manufacturers do not honour the warranty when a car is transferred from the U.S. to Canada. It is also advisable to watch out for damaged and rebuilt vehicles which may also be deprived of any warranty.

Recalls
Like gasoline-powered vehicles, some EVs are subject to recalls. One example is the largest recall of Chevrolet Bolt batteries in recent years. It is therefore essential to check for any recalls that may have been in force at the vehicle level, and to validate whether these have been carried out. For example, a used Chevrolet Bolt that has just had its battery replaced as part of the recall could be a very good buy, as the vehicle contains an almost new battery.

Brakes

An electric vehicle generally puts less strain on brakes and discs due to regenerative braking, which greatly extends their service life. However, it is important that they are serviced and cleaned frequently. Check their condition to make sure they are not too rusty or damaged.

Charging port

Some older models of 100% electric vehicles and some models from the U.S. do not have a fast-charging port. Note that plug-in hybrid vehicles do not have fast charging ports (unless otherwise specified).

It is important to validate the charging ports available on the vehicle you are interested in, and to assess your range requirements to determine whether the vehicle will meet your travel needs.

Vehicle generation

Electric car owners are among the best people to give you information. We advise you to become a member of the groups that exist on Facebook for almost all makes and models of EVs, and to ask any questions you may have, especially about the different generations of vehicles.

First-generation vehicles will usually be less expensive and can represent an excellent second vehicle. On the other hand, some years may be better than others. By asking your questions in the owners' groups on Facebook, you will get the lowdown on which years to avoid, as well as other things to check specifically on the model you are looking at, before you buy.

VERIFICATION STEPS

As for the other checks to be carried out when buying a used electric vehicle, the main things to check are the same as for a gasoline-powered vehicle:

1. Test drive the vehicle

It is essential to test-drive the vehicle before making a purchase decision.

You can take an EV for a test drive by registering with the AVEQ matchmaking program. This program allows you to take a test drive at home, free of charge and with no pressure, via a volunteer available near you who owns the vehicle you would like to try out.

You can also check our website for upcoming test-drive events in your area.

2. Check the Register of Personal and Movable Real Rights (RDPRM)

To find out if there is any outstanding debt associated with the vehicle.

3. Get a CARFAX report

It is the vehicle history report that will give you an overview of the auto insurance claims that have taken place. Please note: some claims may not be included, and some accidents may not have been the subject of an insurance claim.

4. Contact the CAA-Québec Automotive Advisory Services

This step allows you to determine the vehicle's market value. If you are not a member of CAA-Québec, you can also validate the market value by consulting several online ads for the model you are interested in, making sure you are looking at vehicles with similar features and mileage.

5. Mechanical inspection

As with any used vehicle, you need to check the brakes, bodywork, suspension system and tires, in addition to the various components specific to EVs.

Where should I have my vehicle inspected?

• 18 CAA-Québec Approved Service Centres across the province
• 32 CAA-Québec-recommended auto repair services specializing in electric vehicles
• Dealers (some are CAA-Québec recommended)

WHERE TO SHOP FOR A USED ELECTRIC VEHICLE?

Used electric vehicles can now be found on most online used car classifieds sites. Here are two sites recommended for their adherence to a code of ethics (which is not the case for independent dealers):

• Otogo.ca

This is the portal of the Québec Automobile Dealers Corporation (CCAQ).

• Autousagee.ca

This is the site of the Association des marchands de véhicules d’occasion du Québec.

CAA-Québec members can also access a conciliation service in the event of a dispute.

About the price: The market is currently growing, and there has been a strong demand for certain makes and models of EVs in recent years. The loss in value of an EV is similar to the depreciation of gasoline-powered vehicles. The price of a used vehicle depends on a number of factors, such as mileage, year of manufacture and selling value when new.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE PURCHASE OF A USED ELECTRIC VEHICLE

With the provincial Roulez vert program, you can obtain up to $3,500 in subsidies for a used 100% EV. Check the eligibility criteria before you buy. The used vehicle can come from outside Québec but must be registered in Québec for the first time. If it comes from Québec, it must not already have received a new or used vehicle rebate under the Roulez vert program. Your vehicle must also be on the list of vehicle models eligible for subsidies.

The subsidy for the purchase and installation of a charging station is the same as for new electric vehicles, i.e., a maximum of $600.

In short, the process of acquiring a used EV is similar to that of a gasoline-powered vehicle but requires validation of certain features that are specific to electric vehicles. It is a good idea to seek the advice of professionals such as CAA-Québec, and to ask questions to owners of the model you are interested in before you buy.

Other resources

• Short video - « Que faut-il vérifier avant d’acheter une voiture électrique usagée? » (in French only)
• Webinar - Les véhicules électriques d’occasion (in French only)
• Webinar - Des VE d’occasion à saisir, mais pas à n’importe quel prix (in French only)
• Roundtable - La voiture électrique usagée (in French only)