Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I gather that pre-owned EVs are a hard sell though. The technology improves quickly, and there is the big question of how much life the old batteries have left in them.

Is there any free market for replacing batteries in EVs? Or do the automakers have it all locked up?

I bought 2 EVs in the last 2 years. Both were Pre-Owned. 2019 TM3 and 2021 TMY. Best vehicle decision we made. My wife and I are very happy, being EV only, and with our Teslas. Even without being the latest hardware.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Harry Haller
I bought 2 EVs in the last 2 years. Both were Pre-Owned. 2019 TM3 and 2021 TMY. Best vehicle decision we made. My wife and I are very happy, being EV only, and with our Teslas. Even without being the latest hardware.
A lot of people talk about not having the latest technology and how that done how means a car is useless. The fact is any brand new car is always nicer to own than one that’s a few years older. But this notion that older EV’s are done how worse to own than older ICE cars is confusing. I mean a top of the range all the optional extras 5 year old car, is still better equipped than a brand new base model.
It’s just whatever your budget and preferences are.

I’d rather drive a slightly older BMW than a brand new MG.
 
A lot of people talk about not having the latest technology and how that done how means a car is useless. The fact is any brand new car is always nicer to own than one that’s a few years older. But this notion that older EV’s are done how worse to own than older ICE cars is confusing. I mean a top of the range all the optional extras 5 year old car, is still better equipped than a brand new base model.
It’s just whatever your budget and preferences are.

I’d rather drive a slightly older BMW than a brand new MG.

In addition to this, many of the newer companies (Tesla, Rivian,…) continue to add new features to older vehicles. For example Tesla just added Apple Watch app which can act as a key to all Teslas (except the very first TMS/X). They also added cross traffic warnings to the rear camera feed. They also added SiriusXM to TM3/Y/CT via an app (which, since it is streaming, there is a potential for it to be distributed worldwide, not just in line of site with the satellites). It would take me all day to list all the new features that have been added to the used vehicles I bought starting Jan 2023.

So even if you have a vehicle with older hardware, it does not mean it is stuck, it still can improve.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Harry Haller
I gather that pre-owned EVs are a hard sell though. The technology improves quickly, and there is the big question of how much life the old batteries have left in them.

Is there any free market for replacing batteries in EVs? Or do the automakers have it all locked up?
Yes, it is a hard sell.
While the battery can last a very long time (has a long-life warranty), the rest of the vehicle does not. Also, the battery's warranty does not apply in cases of negligence or abuse, or damage caused by the previous owner. Only the previous owner knows if the battery was charged following the manufacturer's guidelines. Buying a preowned EV, or even ICE automobile is often a risky proposition, unless one knows what to check for in a vehicle, something that most people don't.

It is the same when buying a pre-owned ICE automobile in relation to the engine, except that the average engine is not as expensive to replace than an EV battery. Now, there are numerous ICE automobiles made in recent years that, just like EV's, require long hours of maintenance during an engine replacement. So while some engines or batteries may not be very expensive out of the crate or box, the number of hour-labor can make the repair quite costly. Some batteries are quite expensive to buy and much expensive to repair of replace, and so some expensive up-front ICE engines in sports cars (for example), although some of these engines can be replaced in a relatively short period of time.
 
Last edited:
Some good deals out there on pre owned EVs.
As a car salesman we never referred to used cars.
Pre owned sounded newer than used. 🤣
The Bolt and Leaf are extraordinarily affordable ways to get into EVs.

Yup, I get it, I wouldn't get any of the models on that list. I like EVs, but none of them were great and offer big compromises.
 
Some good deals out there on pre owned EVs.
As a car salesman we never referred to used cars.
Pre owned sounded newer than used. 🤣
The Bolt and Leaf are extraordinarily affordable ways to get into EVs.

Some very good deals for the secondhand buyer out there at the moment and its reassuring seeing much older EV's out there for sale with 300k miles and on original batteries. The Tesla Model S and Kia's seem to be seeing that sort of mileage.

Interesting to see on the list there is a picture of an Audi Q4, but the description is about the original Audi e-tron lol. Somebody Googled the wrong picture for the article 🤦‍♂️
It’s not that much of a concern. Most have an 8-10 year warranty. More than you get on any engine.
So a 2-3 year old EV is a real bargain. Plus you can check on the battery health in the cars information.

Batteries are lasting much longer than originally expected in EV’s according to all the research. I’d avoid a first gen Nissan Leaf, but other than that they are very reliable.

Even if the battery does deteriorate, at most you are going to lose a few miles of range in most cases. So a used EV that could do 250 miles will do 230 or so. No ICE car will perform as well after 8-10 years than it did when new.
I haven't got to worry either as we don't own ours and it'll be replaced again next year :p
 
The last time I commented on EVs, I was probably a bit too pessimistic about them. Recently, I had the chance to test drive a Model 3 with my wife, and we walked away with mixed feelings. On the positive side, I really enjoyed the instant acceleration—it’s undeniably quick—and it handles well, feeling both nimble and stable.

However, the front seats are a major downside. I’m just a hair under 5‘8“ and they are so short from front-to-back that the seat pan feels like something designed for a child. I can’t imagine sitting in those for an extended road trip without discomfort.

If my finances allowed for more options, I might consider other EVs. That said, the Model 3 is probably the only EV I’d feel somewhat comfortable owning at this point, despite the seat issue.

Frankly, I don’t drive enough these days that the cost of gasoline is all that limiting to my lifestyle. Even so, I find myself warming up to the idea of an EV. 🧐
 
The last time I commented on EVs, I was probably a bit too pessimistic about them. Recently, I had the chance to test drive a Model 3 with my wife, and we walked away with mixed feelings. On the positive side, I really enjoyed the instant acceleration—it’s undeniably quick—and it handles well, feeling both nimble and stable.

However, the front seats are a major downside. I’m just a hair under 5‘8“ and they are so short from front-to-back that the seat pan feels like something designed for a child. I can’t imagine sitting in those for an extended road trip without discomfort.
I'd suggest you need to give seat positioning a bit more time. I'm from the Netherlands, the TM3 is one of the most popular cars (after the TMY), and the average height means we are the tallest in the world and you are considered well below average to avoid saying short. I'm got a lot of critisms about the TM3/Y, but the seats aren't one of them. And they get even better in my opionion with the TM3 Performance, the seats are great.


If my finances allowed for more options, I might consider other EVs. That said, the Model 3 is probably the only EV I’d feel somewhat comfortable owning at this point, despite the seat issue.

Frankly, I don’t drive enough these days that the cost of gasoline is all that limiting to my lifestyle. Even so, I find myself warming up to the idea of an EV. 🧐
In my experience, if you are looking for another new car anyway, and you can charge at home, it is an excellent option, whether you do limited miles or many miles.

Then again, if you do limited miles and don't need 4 seats, perhaps now is the time to still get a gasoline 2 seater toy :)
 
Wow ... so many pages on this thread. Too long to read them all. I'll just add my thoughts for the Spy thread network:

I test drove a Model Y Tesla last month. It was one of the most exhilarating and terrifying experiences I'd had in a long time. The damned car drove itself! I am super impressed with the design, technology, and comfort of these vehicles.

I'm guessing most people don't even realize how far advanced Tesla's full self driving and Autopilot have come since they were released, let alone that they even exist. The regenerative braking, numerous safety features, cameras, and lack of clutter of buttons and controls made my in-car experience quite unique and refreshing.

I want one. I could take advantage of the end of quarter / year inventory incentives, use a referral code, my military discount and federal tax credit (while it's still around) to lease a 2025 Model Y at a decent monthly cost this year, but I want to see what Tesla unveils next year with the redesigned Model Y Juniper and new, less expensive models.

Plus, I'm still working on the concept of splitting my dryer's receptacle and running charging cables from the laundry that's adjacent to the wall of the garage without pissing off my landlord. ;p
 
  • Like
Reactions: I7guy
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.