The market of electric cars has created a lot of buzz around the world, and India is not alone. Indian users nowadays are looking to buy electrical cars, and in recent searches, it has been found that some users in India are looking for second hand electric cars. This made us think, let’s point out some real factors that will help car buyers to buy used EV cars for city driving without any confusion.
As we can see, the market trend of EV cars in India is still under development, and the new investments from famous brands like Tesla and MG are giving EV infrastructure a stability. This is done so that in the near future, EV car use can be made practically in each and every state of India, from cities to towns or towns to villages, just like petrol or gas-based cars.
We will find more about the second hand electric cars in this article shortly, but before we continue, we would like to say that electric cars are still struggling to create a big market share in India. And the biggest reasons for this are – high upfront cost, low availability of charging stations, and degradation of batteries day by day.
So, still, if you have made up your mind to buy second hand electric cars, then you need to know about some real factors. Based on these factors, you can decide whether you should buy the second-hand electric cars or better to avoid it or better to go and check out the new electric car variants in the market.
Second-Hand Electric Car Advantages
Low Upfront Cost
The upfront cost of a new EV car is too high, hence used cars are significantly cheaper to purchase, and this makes them more accessible and affordable, especially for buyers on a tighter budget.
For Example: A brand new Comet EV Executive costs (on-road price) around Rs 7.38 lakh, but if you plan to buy a Second-hand Comet EV, then it will cost you around Rs 5.50 lakh or Rs 4.50 lakh, depending on age, condition, and demand.
Per Km Saving
As compared to a petrol-based car, the second-hand electric car would be best because its running cost would be around Rs 3.33/km, which is around Rs 9-11/km in a petrol or second-hand petrol car.
Low Insurance Premium
You can save a few more bucks on the second-hand EV car insurance as the replacement value is less. Hence, upon buying a used car, you will find that the insurance cost is generally lower than a new electric car.
Second-Hand Electric Car Disadvantages
The advantages of buying a new electric car are more, but in the case of a second hand electric car, the advantages are very limited. Now, we will show you some big and serious disadvantages that might ruin your dream to buy a used electric car.
New Battery Pack Cost
This is true that a second-hand EV car costs 40-50% less than a new one, but the cost of the battery pack is the main thing that can spoil your mood. If you purchase a used EV car, then in the near future or after some months, you need a new battery pack, and this might impact your budget and dent your bank balance.
Even if you buy the cheapest and smallest second-hand electric car having a battery pack of 17.3 kWh, then its new battery pack will cost you around Rs 3.10 to Rs 3.7 lakh. This is huge, and it is a total loss.
Battery Degradation
Even if you decide to install a new battery pack, the battery charging will degrade over time as it is a natural process. The average lifespan of an EV car battery is around 8-10 years, and it has been found that in a period of 5 years, it degrades by 20-25%. This problem again leads to a low range, and a new battery pack is the solution, which again imbalances your budget as the new battery pack costs a lot.
Outdated Design
Electric cars are still at the innovation stage, and many companies are doing a lot of R&D on the electrical vehicles. Companies launch new generations of vehicles with new technology, and when this happens, the previous generation of electric cars gets outdated, which looks very dull when you take it on the road.
So, here, if you care about the on-road presence of the electric car, then this might hit as in a second-hand electric car, it has been found that they look like outdated cars and give a feeling of cheapness.
EV Car Inspection
Car inspection is required if you are going to buy an old one from the market. Without inspection, you might put your hard-earned money at stake, and it is always advised to consult with a qualified mechanic or EV specialist. This EV specialist will have the job to inspect visible and hidden things of the car. This is a good practice, but for this, you have to pay the inspection fee, which you usually don’t pay when you buy a new car.
Resale Value
The resale value of a second-hand electric car is another downside, as you rarely get a fair amount in your hands. As years pass, the life of the car reduces by 7-10%, and eventually, you have to bear huge losses.
Final Word
Used cars are a best and budget-friendly option to save money. Minor wear & tear, scratches on glasses, dents on the car body are acceptable. But as we can see, in the electric cars, the battery pack is not a single thing; you have to check a few more things like:
- Age of Car: If the car age is 2-3 years and the running km is less than 40,000km, then you can consider it in your buying list.
- Condition: Thoroughly look at the current condition of the EV car. Minor dents, scratches, wear & tear you can ignore, but if you notice more than you can take advantage and bargain.
- Battery Health: This is very important, and by taking a test drive, you can easily find what’s the backup of this car. A car having a battery pack of 24 kWh should give a range of 200-220 km after 3 years.
- Service History: Always check the service history, and for this, you can go to the nearest authorized store. There, you can get real data of the car, and if the details are compromised, then you can find it easily.
- Price: The best way to check the second-hand electric car price is on car selling websites like Cars24, CarDekho, Carwale, Droom, Olx, Spinny. Here, you can know and get an idea about the car price!
So, based on the above factors, you can decide and buy the used car for city driving. But in case the above parameters don’t meet, we recommend taking advice from experts regarding the second hand electric cars. It is better to arrange more money or finance the car and buy a new EV car. This will give you a better result, peace of mind, and you don’t have to worry about the poor performance at least for 5 years.
The cheapest electric car in India starts from Rs 6.99 lakh. It is from MG, and you can also look for other brands like Tata and Citroen for city commute!
What’s your thought on the second hand electric car? Please let us know in the comments and don’t forget to share it with others!
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