If you’re shopping around looking at used SUVs for sale, have you considered a battery electric vehicle (BEV)? Buying a BEV on the used market may seem like a more extravagant vehicle purchase, but once you understand the benefits, it may be the used vehicle you’ve been looking for. Used BEVs are a sweet spot in the pre-owned vehicle market, offering cutting-edge technology and a driving experience that eliminates gas stations and oil changes forever. There’s no doubt that switching from a combustion engine vehicle to a BEV represents a major lifestyle change, but for many used SUV buyers, the switch makes good sense.
BEVs represent the newest sector of used vehicles hitting the market, thanks to a plethora of new models that hit dealerships in the last several years. Automakers like Ford, Chevy, and Tesla have amped up production, which has flooded the used market with affordably priced inventory, including low-mileage lease returns. Because BEVs are still an emerging category, buyers can expect to score a great deal on a used model. Lengthy battery warranties minimize risk, while buying used at a lower price offers an opportunity to try out the BEV lifestyle without a massive financial investment.
Is a BEV right for you? For many buyers, it’s all about weighing the pros and cons of owning an electric vehicle. From range anxiety to environmental stewardship to finding a charging station while on the go, many considerations go into the decision to switch from gas to battery power. Now may be the perfect time to experiment with the BEV lifestyle by selecting a pre-owned model. As BEV technology continues to evolve, the benefits are becoming even more evident. Here are five reasons to consider a BEV over a traditional gas or diesel model.
#1 – Bye Bye Gas Pump
Most BEV owners marvel at the freedom that comes from driving right past the gas station. Forget holding a filthy gas pump; BEV drivers simply plug their vehicles in and relax while the battery recharges. The easiest way to avoid the dreaded “range anxiety” is to invest in a fast-charging station for your home. Once you return home every night, simply plug in your BEV and wake up the next morning to a “full” battery.
Because BEVs don’t have traditional combustion engines, they no longer need oil changes. Who hasn’t dreaded the annoying task of heading to the service center to get their oil changed? Many drivers procrastinate, letting the odometer crank higher as the change oil light blares on their dash. Owning a BEV frees drivers from worrying about oil changes or other maintenance issues, such as changing spark plugs or tending to fuel and exhaust systems.
#2 – Whisper Quiet Operation
BEVs are significantly quieter than combustion engine vehicles because they typically use single-speed transmissions and do not require complex engine components that produce the road noise drivers are used to, including pistons, exhaust systems, and clunky gear-shifting. Without exhaust pipes and mufflers, BEVs don’t emit loud exhaust noise. With mostly electrically powered components, BEVs avoid the ancillary noise produced by pumps and belt-driven components.
With all that engine-free quiet comes a different array of road noise that takes a little getting used to, such as the noticeable whirring sound from the motor. Also, tire noise may seem amplified because it is no longer masked by a combustion engine. To combat this, many BEV manufacturers incorporate additional sound attenuation to keep the cabin whisper quiet. Many experts believe that excessive road noise contributes to driver fatigue, so BEVs may help keep drivers more alert and focused.
#3 – Crazy-Advanced Tech
Since BEVs are powered by advanced battery and electronic components, the supplemental control and monitoring systems, including those that measure range and battery life, must be equally sophisticated. BEVs like the Ford Mustang Mach-E incorporate fully digital dashboards and oversized infotainment screens that serve as control centers. From the screens, drivers can easily monitor driving data and interface with smartphones. The infotainment operating systems stay current via over-the-air updates, which ensures your vehicle is always running on the latest version.
Driver-assist technologies are also abundant on BEVs. Semi-autonomous and autonomous driving systems are prevalent in models like the Ford F-150 Lightning pickup, Tesla models, and the Cadillac LYRIQ. Through an annual subscription, drivers can elect to activate autonomous driving, which allows for hands-free operation, which comes in handy on long, boring highway drives. The system utilizes radar, sensors, and other onboard technologies to “sense” the road, maintain a speed that varies with traffic conditions, and keep the vehicle centered in its intended lane of travel.
#4 – Instant Torque and Regenerative Braking
Who doesn’t long for a little speed? With traditional combustion engine vehicles, achieving blistering off-the-line acceleration and top-end speed correlates with engine displacement. Higher horsepower and torque, along with turbochargers and other mechanical enhancements, determine a traditional vehicle’s performance capability. With BEVs, the motor achieves acceleration in the same way that flipping a light switch turns on a light, which is instantly. When you hit the accelerator on a BEV, the battery sends electricity to the motor almost immediately, creating a magnetic force that generates torque, which is instantaneously sent to drive the wheels.
Traditional vehicles need torque, which is achieved by building rotations per minute (RPM) to achieve full acceleration. Vehicles are typically measured by a zero-to-sixty time, with sports cars achieving acceleration in 3-5 seconds. Conversely, BEVs deliver max torque from an RPM of zero and have the capability to maintain max torque at a wide range of speeds, thus eliminating the lag common with combustion engine vehicles that rely on gear changes and a less efficient process.
#5 – Better Value
It’s simple: BEVs tend to depreciate more quickly than combustion engine vehicles in the first few years for a few reasons. First, technology is rapidly advancing, with newer models delivering longer driving ranges, more advanced battery technology, and increasingly sophisticated operating systems and features. Similar to the evolution of flat-screen TVs and computers, BEVs are in a period of accelerated advancement, rendering used versions slightly less advanced in comparison.
Don’t let the idea that a used BEV might be less advanced than its newer counterpart stop you. In fact, even the earliest BEVs are substantially more technologically advanced than most combustion engine vehicles. Take advantage of the lower purchase price that comes along with a used vehicle to optimize value. Historical values indicate that EVs depreciate approximately 50 percent in the first few years, after which depreciation slows significantly. This opens a “sweet spot” that used BEV buyers can exploit.
How to Determine If a BEV Is Right for You
Making the switch to a BEV makes sense financially, especially when you’re shopping the used market. Before you decide, consider your lifestyle and driving habits. How far do you typically drive daily? What does the network of charging stations along your route look like? You’ll want to verify that access exists for periodic charging. Also, consider where you live. If you can’t install a Level 2 fast-charging station at your home, does your community offer nearby charging?
Matching your driving habits with the right BEV is critical to ensure hassle-free driving and charging. Luckily, plenty of used BEVs now come with longer driving ranges—sometimes more than 300 miles per charge—to eliminate range anxiety and minimize the need for regular charging station access. Perhaps the best reason of all to buy a used BEV: BEVs offer significant advantages surrounding environmental stewardship and ownership and operating costs. No more gas, no more oil changes, and no more tailpipe emissions.
