Breeze through town silently and without emissions, using electricity instead of petrol, and simply charge at home after driving – do you want in? Many Germans are being won over by the idea of owning an electric car. The trend has grown so quickly that manufacturers are in a bind: They can’t produce electric cars fast enough. When you order an electric car, you can expect a waiting time of 4 to 12 months before you actually manage to get on the road.

That’s where the used car market becomes interesting: There are now more and more electric cars being sold second-hand. On Autoscout24.de, for example, there are more than 23,000 used electric cars for sale in Germany (as of August 2021). And compared to new cars there is a lot of saving potential.

Is the solution to the supply problem really that simple? We would say: yes, it is – if you take a few points into account when purchasing a used electric car.

When you buy a used electric car, you should take the following points into account:

• Does it have a certified battery status?
• How much longer will the warranty last on the battery (age/mileage)?
• Can I perform an analysis of the battery?
• How much performance has the battery already lost?
• Check the brakes: Have rust deposits formed on the brakes?
• Check the tyres: Due to the rapid acceleration of electric vehicles, tyres may wear more quickly – depending on the driving style.
• What type of plug does the car take? The Type-2 plug is conventional in Europe.

An electric car is nothing without its battery, and this is one area that demands special attention. A battery not only ages over time. Charging cycles, maintenance and other charging-related activities also influence its condition. As the capacity of the battery decreases, so does the range of the vehicle. 

An ADAC endurance test (German source) of the Nissan Leaf found that the original range dropped by around 11 percent after 80,000 kilometres. In most cases, however, the range remains sufficient for everyday journeys.

Some manufacturers provide buyers with a battery certificate. Mercedes-Benz’ battery certificate, for example, guarantees the performance of the battery in fully electric vehicles and can be requested when purchasing a vehicle second-hand. Other manufacturers also provide similar certificates with their vehicles.

You can view the current battery status in terms of the state of charge (SOC) on the vehicle display. This will show you when you need to take a charging break while driving.

The battery capacity is stated in kWh (similar to fuel tank capacity in litres) and influences the range of the car between charges. The higher the battery capacity, the less you have to stop and charge. For example, a Tesla Model S with a 70 kWh battery will travel up to 470 kilometres. 

When it comes to the price of an electric car, the size of the battery plays a major role. For example, the smart fortwo electric drive - a small city car - has a relatively small battery capacity of 17.6 kWh. That’s why you should consider how far you are likely to drive on a daily basis before purchasing your vehicle. 

The batteries in today’s electric cars are designed to last at least 8 to 10 years. If you want to know the condition of the battery in a used electric car, you should have it tested at a specialist workshop before buying. The battery can be read for valuable information about its condition.

When choosing an electric car, you should not only think about range but about how you will charge it. You should enquire about the charging capacity of the vehicle and the charging infrastructure in your local area in advance. If you want to charge flexibly, you should combine optimal charging performance with a suitable charging station.

What do I need to know about charging? Is a domestic socket enough? Unfortunately not. Domestic sockets are not designed for the sustained load of charging for several hours. In addition, it takes up to 10 times longer to fully charge the battery at a domestic socket than at a charging station with more charging power. 

A wallbox is essential for charging at home to ensure that you and your electric car are always ready for the next trip. We offer a large selection of charging stations and are happy to help you make the right choice.

Find more tips and insider knowledge about the technology in electric cars in our Knowledge Center. Customers also find our charging time summary with all current EV models helpful.

The Mobility House employee Robert played with the idea of getting an electric car for a long time, before finally buying one in 2017. He thoroughly researched the used car market and eventually found a good offer directly from the manufacturer, Tesla. He paid special attention to the quality of the battery and was very pleased when he was offered the full warranty of over four years for his used Tesla Model S. His now five-year-old car offers no less range than when it was new. Even the tyres were changed for him by the manufacturer, meaning that tyre wear was not an issue.

 "I would recommend anyone considering buying an electric car to check out the second-hand market. For me it has absolutely paid off!” says Robert. The quality of his used electric car and the excellent service from the manufacturer left him completely satisfied.