Hyundai Kona Electric – The Practical Electric Crossover

The Kona EV is a small crossover that offers a big dose of practicality and impressive range. The 2019 model is the current generation and has an electric motor that generates 201 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque. It comes with front-wheel drive and can go up to 258 miles on a full charge.

The tech in the Kona EV includes a 7-inch touchscreen that comes loaded with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If you get one of the higher trims, a larger touchscreen is one of the added benefits.

Ford Mustang Mach-E – Sporty Performance and Style

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is not only reliable but also fun. There are a lot of models to choose from, and you can get it with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Power ranges from 266 horsepower to 480, depending on the motor and battery pack. Every Mach-E has a 15.5-inch touchscreen that runs Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment system. It is well worth adding to your list of used cars to test drive.

Kia Niro EV – Lots of Space and Great Tech

The Kia Niro EV is another small SUV that’s not only reliable but offers family-friendly space and technology. The motor generates 201 horsepower and will go up to 239 miles on a full charge. If you need a quick charge, DC fast charging will give you up to 80 of the battery charge in just 75 minutes.

An 8-inch touchscreen comes in the lower trims with a 10.25-inch screen available. Satellite radio is available along with a Harman Kardon stereo system and wireless charging for your phone.

Chevy Bolt – Well-Rounded Compact EV SUV

The Chevrolet Bolt is a compact electric SUV. This practical electric SUV is efficient and fun, with an electric motor that generates 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. It quickly responds when you press on the accelerator, making it perfect for driving around town and when you need to merge and pass on the highway.

The Bolt may fit into the compact SUV market, but the cabin feels spacious. Even if you pile in four adults, everyone will feel like they have plenty of room to get comfortable.

Kia Soul EV—Funky and Spunky

If you like used cars with some personality and you want something reliable, consider a used Kia Soul EV. This Kia was available from 2015 to 2019 and is even more fun to drive than the non-turbo gas model. The electric motor generates 109 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque, which is plenty for this small vehicle.

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What Drivers Should Consider Before They Buy

Everyone knows the benefits of buying a new EV. Electric vehicles don’t use fossil fuels, reducing their environmental impact and saving drivers money. These days, most used car dealerships have at least one or two in their showrooms. But are they worth buying?

Batteries Are the Biggest Worry for Used EV Buyers

Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than their gas-powered alternatives. Fewer moving parts means less to go wrong, and EV owners’ typical driving habits further improve the situation. The limited range of most EVs means people don’t drive them as far.

What most drivers worry about when buying used EVs isn’t the general condition of the cars but the batteries. Most major battery components come with manufacturers’ warranties, and the EVs found at used car dealerships are usually well within the eight-to-ten-year warranty periods.

The flip side of the coin is that when EV batteries reach the end of their warranty periods, they are expensive to replace. The cost of purchasing a new battery pack starts at around $4,000 and can range as high as $10,000 for some models.

Eco-Friendly Drivers Can Do Their Part for the Planet Twice

Buying an EV takes one more combustion-powered engine off the road. That’s good for the environment since the pollutants emitted by traditional gas-powered cars contribute to climate change.

Buying any vehicles at used car dealerships is also better for the environment since it reduces the need for natural resource extraction. The initial manufacturing of an electric vehicle has a larger carbon footprint. Drivers who buy them new don’t start making up for the higher manufacturing emissions for 6 to 18 months.

Used EVs have already offset their initially higher emissions. Buying them instead of going for brand-new models right off the factory lines means drivers are doing their part for the future of the planet not once but twice.

Used EVs Don’t Make Sense for Everyone

That EVs run off electricity instead of gas is what sets them apart from traditional vehicles with combustion engines. Unfortunately, it also makes them a poor choice for some drivers.

EVs require frequent charging and older models have shorter ranges and lower battery capacity. Drivers who don’t have a place to plug in at home may find themselves at a disadvantage. The price of public charging stations varies significantly.

Renters may have difficulty convincing landlords to install dedicated 240-volt plugs. Plus, not all homes can support EV charger installation. If a home has old wiring, an electrician will need to fix it. Even if the house has modern wiring, installing an EV charger can cost thousands of dollars.

All these factors make it essential that buyers consider whether a used EV is the right solution. Talking to experts at reputable used car dealerships about the pros and cons of purchasing an electric vehicle can make the decision easier.

The post Is a Used EV a Good Idea? first appeared on Ride4Watts.com.

The post Is a Used EV a Good Idea? appeared first on Ride4Watts.com.