Mackenzie Brown
Former Global Warming Solutions, Associate, Environment America
Electric vehicles have a wide range of environmental and consumer cost benefits. We’ve compiled some tips on how to navigate the market for used EVs and ultimately make a decision that fits your needs while also curbing pollution.
Former Global Warming Solutions, Associate, Environment America
Senior Director, Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy, Environment America
Former Director, Environment Campaigns, PIRG
You’ve considered the various benefits of switching to an electric vehicle (EV) and you’re ready to think about actually purchasing one. Now what?
With more EVs out on the road than ever before, plus new incentives like tax credits for going electric, in just a few short years the dream of sailing past gas stations in a hybrid or all-electric car has become attainable for millions of Americans.
And the transition comes not a moment too soon for our environment. Transportation is our country’s No. 1 source of greenhouse gas emissions, and accelerating the movement toward an EV future will be crucial to preserving a healthy climate for future generations.
Still, EVs are expensive — so you may have set your sights on buying used rather than new. To help prospective buyers navigate the various options for used EVs, and learn how to get the most out of going electric, Environment America hosted a webinar entitled “Taking Charge: A guide to used electric vehicles.”
Here are our top five takeaways:
Gabe Shenhar with Consumer Reports kicked off the webinar with an overview of the three main types of EVs:
It’s important to know the different types of charging infrastructure out there and which might be the most accessible to you:
EVs typically have a higher purchase cost than their gas-powered counterparts. But in general, that expense is more than offset by the savings accrued over the lifetime of an EV in reduced fuel and maintenance costs.
In fact, a Consumer Reports analysis calculated the total annual operating cost for the gas-powered Hyundai Kona to be around $1,500 — compared to just $550 for the Hyundai Kona Electric.
A few more useful notes about the cost and longevity of used EVs specifically:
And a slide from the webinar on what EV purchases qualify for the Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit (which Environment America helped pass last fall as part of the federal Inflation Reduction Act):
Ellie Peichel of Plug In America spoke to the role EVs play in helping America (and the world) meet our climate goals and combat global warming. Her main takeaways:
Closing out the event was Craig Van Batenburg of the Automotive Career Development Center. Craig detailed how technological advancements have resulted in EV batteries with far fewer parts (and therefore fewer potential breakages) than internal combustion engines, as well as the near-tripling of the range for a typical EV since 2012.
Buying a used EV can allow you to get the benefits of these technologies at a more affordable price point — but it’s important to investigate a car’s history before buying (paying special attention to the wear on the battery pack), and to locate and visit your local EV technician before you buy. You can look for resources in your area by visiting hybridshoplocator.com, and you can get a free battery health report on recurrent.com.
Still have questions? Find out more by checking out the video recording of the webinar.
Want to get more involved in the effort to transition our country to all-electric transportation? Visit our electric vehicles topic page below.
Former Global Warming Solutions, Associate, Environment America
Johanna directs strategy and staff for Environment America's energy campaigns at the local, state and national level. In her prior positions, she led the campaign to ban smoking in all Maryland workplaces, helped stop the construction of a new nuclear reactor on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and helped build the support necessary to pass the EmPOWER Maryland Act, which set a goal of reducing the state’s per capita electricity use by 15 percent. She also currently serves on the board of Community Action Works. Johanna lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her family, where she enjoys growing dahlias, biking and the occasional game of goaltimate.
Former Director, Environment Campaigns, PIRG