Thinking about a used electric car? There are a few EV‑specific checks worth doing. Here are the big ones.
All batteries lose a bit of capacity over the years. The question isn’t whether it’s dropped — it will — but by how much.
Typical degradation depends on model, age and mileage, but as a rule of thumb anything over 90% capacity is still considered healthy. Lower figures are more common on high‑mileage cars or those fast‑charged a lot. You can have the state of health read by a garage, the ADAC, specialist providers, or with an OBD‑II scanner.
As the battery is the heart of an EV, factor its remaining capacity into the price. Packs are still expensive to replace, and for some models new replacements are no longer available.
These providers can run independent battery tests and report the pack’s remaining capacity:
Dekra Aviloo & ADACMany manufacturers offer battery warranties lasting several years or up to a set number of kilometres. They’re especially relevant for models known to suffer cell faults, as repairing or replacing cells — or an entire pack — can be costly. For a used purchase, compare the car’s age and mileage with the warranty terms. If there’s no coverage left, the price should reflect it.
As with any car, check that servicing has been done on schedule and that repairs are documented. Any open service campaigns or recalls should be completed before you buy. EVs are still a relatively young breed, so the odd technical gremlin or improvement does crop up — manufacturers usually sort these via service actions.
Because regenerative braking does much of the slowing, the friction brakes can be used less and corrode sooner. On a test drive, pay attention to their condition.
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