It depends on your expectations and budget. And of course, technology because that’s always adapting.
Buying a New Electric Car: New electric cars are expensive. They start at about $30,000 for subcompact and compact models from mainstream brands and go up to $100,000 for luxury brands. But everything in a new car works perfectly and has all the latest features. New electric cars also tend to have more range. A lot of electric vehicles today can do over 200 miles on a single charge, and that number is only going up. New models also feature fast Level 3 charging that takes them from 0 to 80% in half an hour. Most new cars are also eligible for the generous $7,500 federal tax cut. Some states offer new EV buyers rebates or tax credits too. They also come with extensive warranties and can be leased for two to three years. Comprehensive coverage is usually available for three to five years, with powertrain coverage running from four to ten years. These cars depreciate fast, though. But that doesn’t apply to models with long ranges and the in-demand Teslas.
Buying a Used Electric Vehicle: You can save a lot of money with a used EV. A lot of old EVs in good condition with short ranges can be found at affordable prices. But they may be hard to find as early EVs sold in very low numbers and didn’t have much demand. But the list of old EVs include BMWi3, Chevrolet Bolt, Ford Focus Electric, Nissan Leaf, and a few Teslas. But there is a catch. Driving in cold and hot weather hampers a battery’s performance, especially if the heater or AC is running. This means that while these cars may be rated to run for hundreds of miles, you’re likely going to get about 60% of that range in the real world. EV batteries also lose their ability to hold a charge over time. Make sure you check what its actual range is before buying it. Then there’s standard risk associated with all used cars because a lot of them are sold on an “as is” basis. Get a trusted mechanic to check it out.