How old is too old for a 2nd-hand EV car?

johnnyivan

Hi All,

I'm thinking of buying a car and can't bear the idea of burning petrol, but I can't afford to spend much.

There are 2nd hand EV cars for between 5k and 7k, but they tend to be 2009, 2013, that sort of vintage.

Would I be asking for trouble with one of those? Will the battery be on its last legs and need replacing? Would that cost a fortune? Would it even be possible?

To be honest, 5k would be great, 7k might be possible. I'm seeing Nissan Leafs, Renault Zoes...

Thanks,

John

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058327501/how-old-is-too-old-for-a-2nd-hand-ev-car

What’s the 2009 EV?

2011 onwards should see the Leaf.

Id wait until at least a 2013 onwards Leaf is in budget as it’s the newer battery and should still have 80-90km range.

If those figures suit you of course. No point buying one of these if you regularly do cross country trips or more than those distances every single day.

Basilio

€3,000 Nissan Leaf 2011 Price dropped as want sold before January.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-leaf-excellent-runabout-and-first-ev/34262665

ELM327

My daily driver (local daily driver) is a 2011 nissan leaf with 9/12 bars. Theres no too old, just buy a car that suits your needs. I'm getting 60-70km from it in this weather and 70-80km when the heater isnt in use (the earlier models pre 132 had a PTC heater and no heat pump)

johnnyivan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121512612#Comment_121512612

Hi Gumbo,

Thanks.

The 2009 was a 'Honda Fit.'

The Leaf's are the nerdiest silliest looking cars ever but I could put up with that. I'm wondering about the 80-90k range though. I could barely do a round trip from Dublin to my parents in Kildare on a full charge. And a holiday in Ireland would be an absolutely headache.

john

johnnyivan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121513141#Comment_121513141

Hi Basilio,

That's interesting but I'm concerned about the range and the battery.

John

ELM327

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121517203#Comment_121517203

See my comments above about range and battery.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121517191#Comment_121517191

Then you need to increase budget.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121517191#Comment_121517191

Honda Fit is a hybrid not an EV

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121517482#Comment_121517482

I was wondering where he was going with the 2009 EV alright!

Firblog

Can you access home / work charging?

If not I wouldn't bother with cheap EV; constant awkward expensive charging... ugh.

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058327501/how-old-is-too-old-for-a-2nd-hand-ev-car

Buy a petrol car. Everytime you fill it up, just think of all the rare metals that didn't need to be mined to build your petrol car versus any ev.

johnnyivan

Yeah, I might have to be a selfish s**t and get a petrol car until EVs come down in price.

ELM327

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121520641#Comment_121520641

Good thing theres no cobalt used in petrol extraction. In fact, petrol just rains down from the sky prerefined.

NIMAN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121517191#Comment_121517191

Once you start to put in conditions on the use of the ev, like it needs to be able to drive around ireland during the summer, then you obviously start to add restrictions on what you can buy.

The first question everyone considering an ev should ask themselves is, "does it suit my needs".

One buyer might be able to get away with a 2012 Leaf if they only drive 20km per day, but someone else might need a Tesla 3 for their daily mileage