At the risk of sounding like a car commercial for a moment: summer is here, and the deals are hot, hot, hot.
Not so much for most new cars, mind you; they’re still quite expensive. So are most used cars. But if you want a used electric car, you may be looking at the deal of the century. And that’s especially true for the next few months as the $4,000 used electric-vehicle tax credit remains in effect until Sept. 30. We’re seeing some incredibly low prices on newer EVs, many of them fresh off their leases, like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Polestar 2 and a seemingly endless supply of Tesla Model 3s.
But what happens if you come across a great deal on an EV with 100,000 miles on the odometer? Or even 200,000 or 300,000 miles, which we’re starting to see more of?
That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s episode of The Plugged-In Podcast.
This is a valid question both because of the high demand for used EVs (which can now easily be found in the $20,000-range) and because of what we’ve seen in terms of advancements in modern battery health. This year, InsideEVs has reported on multiple studies and tests about higher-mileage EVs. Namely, they often have the same efficiency as newer ones; their batteries degrade far less than they once did; and they still deliver great range even well past the 100,000-mile mark.
That addresses some of the biggest questions we get about EV ownership: how long does the battery last, and how expensive will it be to replace? And lately, the answer is longer and better than most people think, and they may not even need replacing. You can’t say the same of gas-powered cars, which lose efficiency and power over time as their mechanical parts wear out.
So my theory is that if an EV’s other parts (suspension, brakes, tires, etc.) are in good working order, and it hasn’t been in a crash or seen other damage, and the interior is in good shape… maybe mileage doesn’t matter anymore?
What a game-changer that would be for the entire concept of car ownership.
But on less galaxy-brain matters, my co-host Tim Levin and I also analyze what’s going to happen with Slate Auto’s probably-no-longer-sub-$20,000 electric truck once the EV tax credits end. Is it still a good deal if it runs into Ford Maverick prices? Plus, we discuss Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe’s comments about so-called traditional automakers being the biggest barriers to the electric shift.
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And we’re looking to answer more listener questions on the show! Drop your burning questions about EVs, EV buying and the future of transportation below, or email us at podcast@insideevs.com.
