Electric cars for sale

Are you planning to make the switch to an electric car from one with a petrol or diesel engine? Perhaps you are looking to upgrade your current electric vehicle (EV for short) to a newer, higher-tech one? Whatever your reason for driving electric, you’ll find a wide range of small, electric hatchbacks and family friendly SUVs right here on BuyaCar. For greater assurance and ease, all of our electric cars for sale include a warranty and free home delivery. Find your new EV online with BuyaCar today.

What are the best electric cars?

This very much depends on what you need your EV for, but we recommend looking at nearly new electric cars as these represent fantastic savings over the brand new price. Plus you will still benefit from the car retaining the majority of the manufacturer warranty should any of the technology fail. Compact electric hatchbacks, such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe are very good EVs with plenty of equipment, but they tend to lose their value quicker as they are no longer in production.

How much do electric cars cost?

Due to their relative newness and high specifications, buying a brand new electric car can be expensive, particularly if you pay for it outright. However, because of some consumer scepticism over electric vehicles, combined with rapid technological advances, electric cars make fantastic used car buys, especially if you opt for a nearly new one. While electric cars can cost more to buy, they are significantly cheaper to run than petrol and diesel alternatives, especially if you are able to recharge at home.

How do I charge an electric car?

Charging is one of the more unusual aspects of owning an electric car, but it is very easy to adapt to. Rather than heading to your nearest filling station, you could charge your car at home. It is possible to use an ordinary domestic socket for this but a much better and quicker alternative is a dedicated electric vehicle wall box, many of which are inexpensive to install.

When you are out and about, you can use even faster public chargers, many of which are popping up in supermarket, fast food restaurant and coffee shop car parks. Chargers and electric cars need compatible connections, although the majority provide today’s two most common types, CCS and Type 2. Some earlier EVs had the now less prevalent ChaDeMo connection, which are still supported by many public chargers.

Do electric cars cost more to insure?

Your insurance cost for any car depends on many factors, including the level of cover you require, your driving history and where you live. However, as electric cars are still relatively new, which means parts are more expensive and trained technicians are fewer in number, it may cost slightly more to insure an electric car. It is also worth noting that the number of electric cars on the road is increasing, as are the number of people who maintain them, which should cause costs to fall over time. 

How far can an electric car drive before it needs recharging?

Most electric cars will easily travel over 100 miles on a charge, and many can exceed 250 miles with little trouble. However, it very much depends on the electric car itself, how you drive it and the prevailing weather conditions. Cold weather in particular can dramatically reduce an EV’s range, particularly if the car doesn’t have a battery pre-heater. While older electric cars can make great used car bargains, battery health declines over time just as it does with a mobile phone, so a full charge for an ageing EV won’t necessarily mean it will go as far as it did when new. 

Are electric cars better for the environment?

This is a much-debated point of contention as the true environmental cost of building and distributing an electric car versus a conventional petrol- or diesel-powered car is disputed. However, electric vehicles are generally considered better for the environment, particularly at a local level when they are being driven. Although the manufacturing of EVs has a significant carbon footprint, the cars themselves emit no CO2 or other tailpipe gases and particulates, beneficial for improving air quality particularly in urban areas.