Opinions on the best value in a used EV

[Hersbird]

Besides Tesla, most pure EVs have a poor resale. To me, the used car buyer, that's great!

I was surprised to see the projection for 3 year resale on the 2017 Hyundai Inoiq EV to be 35.5% of it's $31,000 msrp. So next year they should have 2017 models for around $11,000 at auction. From current (pun) shopping that seems to be a stretch as I only see them going right now at retail for $20,000. Then again that's retail vs wholesale, maybe they are only bringing $15,000 at auction now, and in another year there might be a bigger turnaround in supply of the used ones.

The Leaf can be found very inexpensive now, under $5000 no problem as they go back awhile. Even a more current (pun intended again) model suffers the same 35% resale value after 36 months.

Seattle has a good selection of 3 year old Golf EVs with less than 20,000 miles on them for $11-15k (one has only 8,000 miles). They are even VW certified used but I'm not sure what that means extra in the VW world.

I personally don't think the BMW I3 or the Smart would work well with my hill and Montana winters.

What about the Fiat 500e? Some say it's pretty fun.

What do you all think? What is the best value used EV on the market? Where is the best bang for your buck?

PS based on my bill I pay $.12 per kWh using an average of 32.7 kWh per day for $3.89 per day. I don't think we have tiered pricing or any differences night/day in our aera. There may also be a set "delivery" portion part of that number that may make adding charging everyday even less than $.12/ kWh.

PPS looking at a higher month in the heat last summer, 43.1 kWh average was $4.99 per day. So charging 10.4 kWh per day more would cost me $1.10 per day and that should give me about 40 miles which is more than I travel now by a bunch, and would cost me almost $10 in the beast.

[vskid3]

How much range do you need? Pretty much all of the cheaper options are rated for 70-80 miles. You'll have to pay $15-20k to get more than 100 miles (Bolts have 240 miles and can be had for about $20k).
I haven't heard anything bad about the 500e (it is a Fiat/Chrysler, though), but there's no fast charge option if you need/want it. Spark EV would be my first choice for an EV in the $10k range because of its optional fast charging (I personally would try to get one with it) and good battery management. The Leaf is killed by its battery's lack of thermal management.

[Hersbird]

Right now, even 40 miles would be good enough, but it is possible we move out about 30 miles in a couple years, then I would need more like 70 miles at 65 mph and in all weather conditions.

I do have 240 in my garage now.

[samwichse]

Don't forget about the Spark!

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...used-car-deal/

It always sounded like it was one of the most fun in the batch of compliance EVs. Plus, Chevrolet seems to have come out of the gate with good battery longevity in their cars.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by samwichse

Don't forget about the Spark

Chevrolet send to have been out the gate with good battery longevity in their cars.

+1 The spark will make a 40 mile commute summer or winter and lacks the battery troubles present on other brands.

Originally Posted by Hersbird

Right now, even 40 miles would be good enough, but it is possible we move out about 30 miles in a couple years, then I would need more like 70 miles at 65 mph and in all weather conditions.

I do have 240 in my garage now.

Volt or PIP would work best year round
if your rarely driving outside it’s range.
The PIP is poorly priced for what you get.
Volts are cheap and easily get over 40 miles summer range. If you don’t use gas much just keep 2 gallons in the tank and let it run out if you don’t need Winter heat.
The I3 Rex is perfectly fine for your commute in the mountains as long as you code it but it has a lot of BMW priced failures you will inevitably contend with if you keep the car ($4000 motor mounts aren’t fun) an “engine heat” mod would also be pertinent up north.

Anyway.
None of the 1st gen EVs have a reliable 70 mile Winter range at highway speeds, period. Even 40 mile is pushing it in Winter .

The IMiev in many ways is a better car than the leaf, but you would have to ask Ben about it’s Winter performance.

Leafs have major battery degradation issues and can have a real world range below 25 miles in winter as the battery ages.

https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?t=26662
Pick your poison, most EVs aren’t Friendly in northern climates.

This coming from a guy with a 1981 Comutacar and was on the leaf reservation list in 2011 but refused the car and eventually bought a Volt

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by samwichse

Don't forget about the Spark!

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...used-car-deal/

It always sounded like it was one of the most fun in the batch of compliance EVs. Plus, Chevrolet seems to have come out of the gate with good battery longevity in their cars.

And reading your link that brings up another question. What about warranties? I know in the past buying a used Kia that 10 year warranty was only for the original purchaser. So which cars will still be under a factory warranty especially on the battery and what do they consider a failed battery? If it gets 50% of new is it still fine according to warranty?

[samwichse]

Typically I think warranties are to 80% battery capacity. Although IIRC Nissan (as usual) fudges this and I think only replace at a lower capacity.

[rmay635703]

If your thinking leaf read the following
https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?t=26662


Most brands don’t guarantee battery capacity outside the 3/36, Nissan was sued into expanding it to 5/60 (I think)

California cars are warranted against battery failure 10/150k
Non-carb are warrantied against failure 8/100k

Battery degradation is not legally required to be covered so making a claim on that issue can be very tough.

[Hersbird]

[Hersbird]

The Soul and Golf are looking pretty good on that list, especially the 10 year Kia as I don't think I'd hit 100,000 on anything anytime soon assuming it doesn't already have 60,000 miles on it.