When you’re buying an electric vehicle, it’s important to notice the difference between buying an electric vehicle and buying a gasoline historical legacy vehicle. The two vehicles may look essentially the same if you park an EV next to a traditional gas vehicle. They’re going to look about the same, and you can tell an EV is a little different because the nose is normally pointy, usually without a grill. This is because you don’t need air coming in from the front to cool the engine. Electric vehicles are typically more sleek and streamlined, but they both look like vehicles, right? Four doors, four tires, windshield glass—essentially, when you’re buying an electric vehicle, you’re not buying a traditional car in the sense of what prior vehicles were. You’re basically buying a battery with a body around it. That’s what you’re buying with an electric vehicle.

Considerations for Gasoline Vehicles
When you’re buying a gasoline vehicle, it’s important to think about the reliability of the gasoline engine, the transmission, the driveline, and the axle. Gasoline engines have many internal lubricated parts that undergo reciprocal movement. Pistons, valves, crankshafts—all kinds of metal parts are involved in explosions happening inside the engine. The high value of a gasoline vehicle lies in the engineering of its motor. On the other hand, with an electric vehicle, you don’t have all those moving parts. The battery is the heart and soul of the vehicle, and it’s the most expensive part. When buying a new electric vehicle, focus on the reliability and engineering of the battery. This is crucial for your range and the longevity of the vehicle.

Battery Reliability in Electric Vehicles
The battery in an electric vehicle is a very expensive part of the car, often costing twenty or thirty thousand dollars to replace. This is because it’s a highly engineered piece of equipment with rare earth metals and materials built into it. When buying a new electric vehicle, it’s essential to focus on the reliability and engineering of the battery. The battery is what you’re relying on to get you your range and to last over time. Unlike a gasoline engine that runs consistently until it breaks, a battery in an electric vehicle gradually degrades over time. This degradation affects the vehicle’s range, making it important to consider the battery’s condition and warranty when making a purchase.

Battery Degradation in Electric Vehicles
A battery in an electric vehicle starts to degrade the range little by little as you own it. For instance, if the battery has a range of 200 miles initially, after a couple of years, it might be down to 180, with further reductions over time. While most batteries come with an eight-year warranty, there’s often a mileage limitation. If you’re buying a used electric vehicle, it becomes even more critical to have the battery tested to ensure it holds its charge and has a lot of life left in it. Unlike a gasoline engine with visible signs of wear, a battery shows no outward signs of degradation. Thus, whether you’re buying new or used, remember that you’re essentially buying a battery with a body and some seats and tires.

Focus on battery due diligence
Whether you’re buying a new or used electric vehicle, remember that you’re buying a battery that happens to have a body, some seats, and some tires. It’s crucial to focus on due diligence related to the battery more than the rest of the car when you’re buying an EV, whether it’s new or used.