Quick Facts About Mileage on Used EVs
- Mileage creates wear and tear on moving parts, and EVs have far fewer components than cars with gas engines.
- Charging cycles and time are more harmful to EV battery lifespan than mileage.
- The federal government mandates that EV battery warranties cover 100,000 miles at a minimum, but some automakers provide longer coverage.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are undoubtedly becoming part of the mainstream, with more choices, more sales, more discounting, and more curious buyers exploring their options. EVs make up nearly 10% of the new car market, and many will eventually become used cars for sale on dealer lots.
One question on your mind likely is whether its mileage is an essential consideration when shopping for a used electric car. Common sense tells us that, yes, mileage is always a significant factor when buying used. However, just how important is it when shopping for used electric cars?
We’ll take you through the EV mileage question and other considerations: Does it matter? How long will an EV battery last? Plus, what effect does mileage have on an EV’s battery? Finally, we’ll offer advice on how to weigh mileage versus value when shopping for a used EV. Let’s take a look.
- Does EV Mileage Matter?
- Electric Car Battery Life: Mileage Isn’t the Key
- EV Battery Warranty by Carmaker
- Using Used Electric Car Mileage to Your Advantage
- Should You Buy a Used EV?
Does EV Mileage Matter?
As we’ve already established, a used car’s mileage always matters, whether an EV or a vehicle with a gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine (ICE). However, the miles on the odometer generally count more for an ICE vehicle than an EV.
Electric vs. Gas Cars: Mileage Impact
Where cars are concerned, mileage indicates wear and tear. The more miles you drive a car, the more wear and tear it suffers. In this regard, a vehicle with an ICE doesn’t rack up more wear and tear than an EV. However, it does have more components that can wear out or break.
For example, consider that a gas-fueled car has an engine with pistons, valves, a crankshaft, hoses, belts, a timing chain, and so forth. That engine bolts to a multi-speed transmission with all its moving parts. An EV has none of that. Its only actual moving parts for generating propulsion are those few involved with the whirling electric motor and a single-speed transmission. Consequently, an EV has a clear advantage over an ICE vehicle in the ongoing battle with wear and tear.
Gas-fueled cars and EVs do have some similar components, and mileage does impact those. For example, both types of automobiles have brake systems, suspensions, tires, and so on. Although these common components require maintenance, the primary contributor to a used EV’s value lies in its battery.
TIP: When buying a used EV, you should pay careful attention to the tread life remaining on the tires. Tires for an EV cost more than on a diesel- or gasoline-fueled car because they support more weight and must endure more torque.
RELATED ARTICLE: Buying an Electric Car: Tips You Need
Electric Car Battery Life: Mileage Isn’t the Key
The stored energy required to supply electricity to the electric motor comes from a multi-cell lithium-ion battery. It’s the type of battery like those in your smartphone and laptop, but exponentially larger. Carmakers build safeguards into an EV’s battery system. They extend a battery’s life by preventing it from fully charging or completely discharging. This protective measure is one reason an EV may not achieve the government’s estimated travel range.
As with the battery in your smartphone, over time, an EV battery pack’s capability to hold a charge decreases, reducing its range. This capacity reduction accelerates if an EV lives in a frigid or super-hot climate. Plus, providing good EV battery maintenance keeps it healthy.
Experts agree that frequent use of Level 3 DC fast charging stations or Tesla Superchargers also hustles battery degradation. However, unlike the 12-volt battery that powers your car’s radio and other accessories, an EV’s battery won’t simply fail one day. Still, the battery pack does lose efficiency over time.
The bottom line is that charging cycles and time are more detrimental to an EV battery’s lifespan than mileage.
How Fast Will an EV Car’s Battery Degrade?
Electric vehicles are still relatively young, so there isn’t a treasure trove of real-life data to analyze. However, expert studies have simulated long-term wear, and plenty of anecdotal evidence exists about EV battery degradation. The general agreement is that an EV battery pack loses about 2% to 3% of its charging capacity yearly. Although this doesn’t mean every EV battery performs this way, it’s a rule-of-thumb indication of the rate at which batteries lose capacity.
How Long Will an EV’s Battery Last?
Although there are exceptions, according to experts, an electric vehicle’s battery should far outlast the automaker’s battery warranty. Some estimates are as high as 200,000 miles. Carmaker EV battery warranties provide coverage for at least eight years or 100,000 miles.
According to the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration data, the average driver travels about 14,500 miles annually. That being the case, the average lifespan of an EV car’s battery would be between 6.9 years (100,000 miles) and 13.8 years (200,000 miles).
As battery technology evolves over time, their longevity is expected to increase.
RELATED ARTICLE: 6 Things to Know About Batteries in Used Electric Vehicles
How Do You Know if a Used EV Battery Is Still Under Warranty?
If the seller can’t provide proof of the battery warranty and you want to verify it, you can do so using its VIN (vehicle identification number). It’s engraved on a plate where the dashboard meets the windshield on the driver’s side. With that and the mileage on the odometer, contact the service department of any franchised dealer for that brand. They can determine whether or not the warranty is still in effect.
EV Battery Warranty by Carmaker
A good gauge of the minimum you can expect an EV battery to last is its warranty. The United States government mandated that the minimum length of every EV battery warranty be eight years or 100,000 miles. Most carmakers will replace the battery if it can no longer hold a charge and is within the warranty’s parameters. Others will replace the battery if it can only recharge to 70% of the original capacity. Here are the factory EV battery warranties grouped according to the length of coverage:
10 years or 150,000 miles
10 years or 100,000 miles
8 years or 175,000 miles
- Rivian Gen 1 (with Quad-Motor and Large battery pack)
8 years or 150,000 miles
- Rivian Gen 2 (with Large or Max battery pack), Rivian Gen 1 (with Dual-Motor and Large or Max pack)
- Tesla Model S, Model X, Cybertruck
8 years or 120,000 miles
Rivian (Gens 1 and 2 with Standard battery pack)
- Tesla Model 3, Model Y (Long Range, Performance, and All-Wheel Drive models)
8 years or 100,000 miles
- Audi
- BMW
- Cadillac
- Chevrolet
- Ford
- GMC
- Jaguar
- Lucid
- Mazda
- Mercedes-Benz
- Mini
- Nissan
- Polestar
- Porsche
- Subaru Solterra/Toyota bZ4X
- Volkswagen
- Volvo
Using Used Electric Car Mileage to Your Advantage
Whether you’re on the buying or selling side of a used EV transaction, you may find a bargaining tool in the battery’s age versus the warranty coverage.
Buying a Used Electric Car
Let’s say the used EV you want to buy still has its original battery. And it’s pushing either the mileage or age limit of the original limited battery warranty. You can use that to strike a better deal by pointing out you’ll soon lose the warranty protection. In other words, if the battery begins failing, you might need to lay out $5,000 to $15,000 or more to replace it.
MORE: Car Payment Guide: Calculating What You Can Afford
Selling a Used Electric Car
On the other hand, you might be selling your EV. If it has a substantial amount of time or miles left on the original EV battery warranty or if you recently replaced the battery, you can tout that as a big plus, providing at least some advantage in negotiations with a potential buyer.
RELATED: How to Negotiate a Car Deal: What You Need to Know
Should You Buy a Used EV?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to whether you should buy a used EV, any more than there is for buying any used car. The answer depends on the particular vehicle and the deal. However, there isn’t a reason not to consider a used electric vehicle. Moreover, you may be able to score a sweet deal on a used EV, even with the current unpredictability of the market. Let’s check out some of the pros and cons of buying a used EV.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Price: EVs have depreciated faster than ICE cars. While EVs don’t hold their value once off the lot, you can get a great deal on used electric car. | Battery life: There is little chance an EV battery will quit altogether, but they degrade and reduce range. If near the warranty end, replacement may be sooner rather than later. |
| Less maintenance: EVs are easier and cheaper to maintain. With fewer moving parts, there’s less to go wrong, and fewer potential problems are lurking beneath the sheet metal. | Charging: Depending on the EV battery’s capacity, the health of the cells, and the type of charger used, getting to an 80% charge can take less than an hour or days in extreme cases. |
| Passenger environment: EVs deliver a quieter, more pleasing passenger experience. Acceleration is smoother and certainly noiseless when compared to a conventional car. | Range: EVs have limited range, but they’re improving. Typical range today is between 250 and 375 miles. Examples: The Kia Niro EV has an estimated range of 253 miles and the Tesla Model 3’s top-end range is 363 miles. |
| Special treatment: In many states, an EV gives you access to the highway’s high-occupancy vehicle lanes (HOVs). | Tires: Replacement tires for an EV can cost more than for a conventional vehicle by as much as 30% to 50%. You can blame an EV’s added weight and greater torque loads for requiring specialty tires. |
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated since its initial publication.
