Frequently Asked Questions about EVs

1. General Questions

2. Buying Used Electric Cars

3. Selling Used Electric Cars

4. Costs and Incentives

5. Maintenance and Warranties

6. Batteries and Battery Health

7. Charging and Range

8. Environment and Health

Compared to traditional gasoline or diesel engine cars, electric cars are cheaper to maintain and good for the environment and local air quality. In addition, electric cars are modern, reliable, high performance, advanced in their technology, and more future-proof from a regulatory perspective. More on 'why to go electric' in our article here.

Electric cars, also known as battery electric vehicles (BEVs or EVs), rely on large battery packs as their only power source. They don't have gasoline or diesel-powered internal combustion engines, making them zero tail-pipe emission vehicles. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars have internal combustion engines and, typically, considerably smaller batteries.

There are over 40 electric car models available in the US. EVs come in all sizes, specs, and price points. For a list of the most popular models and tips for 'choosing an EV that fits your needs', see our related article here.

Not necessarily. EV owners typically save around $1,000 per year in fuel (charging) and maintenance costs. After the recent price adjustments, a new Standard Range Tesla Model 3 ($43,000) also costs significantly less than the average new car in the US ($48,000), even before the $7,500 tax credit for new EVs. There are also a number of relatively affordable used EVs available today – and a $4,500 tax credit for selected used EV buyers.

Yes, typically very much so. Electric cars should actually last longer than their combustion engine counterparts. They have fewer moving parts and don't require typical engine maintenance.

For many, buying a used EV is actually more economical than buying a comparable combustion engine car. Typical pre-owned electric car prices range between $20,000 and $50,000. Selected EV buyers can also apply for a $4,500 used EV tax credit and other possible incentives. The average EV owner also saves around $1,000 per year in charging (vs. fueling) and maintenance related costs.

We recommend buying pre-owned EVs from EV-expert retailers, such as Ever. This will ensure your EV has been properly inspected, estimated battery health is sufficient, and you get all the EV-related help and ancillary products you need. That being said, EVs are becoming more prevalent in private marketplaces and generalist dealers' inventories.

You can finance your used EV just like you would finance any other used car. Most typical options include financing via the dealership or finacing via your bank or credit union. EV-expert retailers, such as Ever, and EV-specialized lenders may also offer EV-specific financing rates.

In addition to any personal preferences over makes and models, you should consider at least sufficient range and appropriate size and price point. Today, you don't have to care too much about compatibility with different chargers – even the Tesla charging network is opening up. For a list of the most popular models and tips for 'choosing an EV that fits your needs', see our related article here.

Both are great options and the decision typically comes down to price and personal preferences. Modern EVs, especially from around 2017 onwards, are very realiable – even more so than traditional combustion engine cars – so also used EVs are a great option. Additionally, used EVs come with the benefits of being more affordable, being available without long wait times, and having been tested and proven reliable in use.

You can sell your EV just like you would sell any other used car: trade your EV to a dealership, sell your EV separately to a dealership, or sell your EV privately via listing or auction platforms. EV-expert retailers, such as Ever, can quickly assess the health and fair value of your EV before making a competitive offer.

Either works. Trading-in your car has the benefits of being easy, saving time, and allowing you to apply for a slightly smaller loan for your next car. Selling separately is also a good option and getting a separate, competing offer is recommendable to ensure you will get a fair price. EV-expert retailers, such as Ever, will be happy to either take EV trade-ins or buy your EV separately.

Sell to a buyer who appreciates your EV and its good quality. This can be a private buyer or an EV-focused retailers. You can find a relevant buyer by looking for EV-focused retailers, such as Ever, or listing your car for sale at private listing or auction platforms.

Typically, used EV prices range from around $20,000 to $50,000. There are also selected premium models and trims that go beyond this range.

Selected used EV buyers may qualify for a $4,500 used EV tax credit – when buying used EVs priced below $25,000. Additionally, there may be other local or state-level incentives that are worth exploring. EV-expert retailers, such as Ever, are happy to help with any tax credit related questions.

On average, EV owners save around $1,000 per year in fuel (charging) and maintenance-related costs.

Charging an electric car from 0 to 100% costs around $5 to $25. Typically, switching from a traditional combustion engine car to a comparable electric car will save you around 75% of expected fuel costs. For more on EV charging costs, see our related article here.

Typically, EV owners save around $400-500 per year in maintenance costs, as compared to traditional gasoline or diesel car owners. For more on EV maintenance, see our related article here.

New EVs come with manufacturer-provided basic (or 'limited') vehicle warranties, powertrain warranties, and battery warranties. Typically, when you buy a used EV, at least some of these warranties are still valid. Additionally, you may get a dealer-provided warranty or purchase an extended vehicle service contract. For more on EV warranties, see our related article here.

If there is no manufacturer or dealer-provided warranties or vehicle service contracts remaining, or they are about to run out, it is often a good idea to consider an extended protection plan. For more on EV warranties, see our related article here.

Yes. Lithium-ion batteries used in modern electric cars have, for example, a much lower risk of fire explosions than gasoline in conventional vehicles.

You can expect an EV battery to last for 12 to 20 years. In the US, all EVs sold today come with at least 8 years or 100,000 miles in manufacturer-provided battery warranty. After this, a battery replacement may become timely at some point but shouldn't typically cost much more than an engine replacement on conventional vehicles.

In the US, all new EVs come with at least 8 years or 100,000 miles in manufacturer-provided battery warranties. After this, a battery replacement and related costs may become timely at some point. However, this shouldn't cost much more than an engine replacement on conventional gasonline or diesel engine vehicles.

Download OTA updates, keep average battery charge between 20-80%, and avoid overusing Level 3 fast chargers.

You have three main options. First, you can get a remote, statistical estimate of an EV's battery health – with the help of battery diagnostic service providers, such as Recurrent. This kind of statistical estimate is typically based on a large data set of similar EVs' battery health, after similar mileage, age, and location. Second, you can check the electric car's own battery diagnostics, as made available by the vehicle's manufacturer. Many makes and models have some type of battery information available via the car's infotainment system or mobile application. Third and last, you can complete a physical battery diagnostic using the car's OBD-II port – with the help of battery diagnostics tools. This tends to be the most accurate and objective esimate of an electric car's battery health. The most sophisticated EV expert retailers, such as Ever, typically complete all three types of diagnostics when sourcing, inspecting, and refurbishing EVs.

The average daily commute in the US is 41 miles round trip. Pretty much any modern EV will thus have ample range to cover this distance – many times over. However, consumers who regularly take longer road trips or drive closer to 100 miles per day may want to consider EVs with 250-350 miles in range. Anything beyond this tends to be less relevant. For more on range-related considerations, see our EV Range Guide here.

This depends heavily on your daily driving habits. The average range for today's EVs is around 250 miles. On average, this is sufficient for 4-6 days of round trip commuting. Typically, however, EV owners find it most convenient to charge their vehicles by simply plugging in when arriving at home or at office. This takes away the need for dedicated trips to charging stations and saves money. For more on charging-related considerations, see our EV Charging Guide here.

Vast majority of today's EV owners charge their electric cars at home. Typically, this is not just the most convenient form of charging but also most affordable.

All charging options have their use cases. Level 1 charging, typically at home, is considered the most affordable. Level 2 charging is faster and, together with Level 1, considered a more battery health friendly option. Level 3 fast charging will replenish your EV's battery in just 20-60 minutes, but will be slightly more expensive and will put some strain on battery health. For more on charger levels, see our related article here.

Yes. Electric cars have significantly lower life cycle emissions compared to similar gasoline or diesel cars. Based on most recent scientific studies, EVs incur around 50-70% lower greenhouse gas emissions over their lifecycle - even when accounting for how the electricity used to charge EVs is generated and how much energy and materials are needed for producing EVs and their batteries.

Electric cars have zero tailpipe emissions, allowing for significantly improved air quality compared to gasoline and diesel cars. Recent scientific studies have indeed linked increasing EV adoption with less air pollution and improved health.

Yes. At the end of their useful life powering an electric car, batteries can be first reused and repurposed, and then recycled.