Year-old EV sales vying with diesels for 2nd in online used car market 

Growing confidence in second-hand electric cars is signalled by EVs pushing toward second place as the fuel of choice – particularly among sales of one-year-old cars. According to figures from online car supermarket BuyaCar.co.uk, EVs registered in 2020 have been representing up to 27 per cent of all one-year-old car sales in recent weeks.

BuyaCar says that the confidence its customers are showing in the used EV market is one of the strongest signs yet that full battery-powered cars have crossed the tipping point into becoming a mainstream motoring choice.

The news comes a week after BuyaCar’s parent company, Autovia, revealed that more new car buyers plan to replace their car with an EV than any other fuel type.

Meanwhile, the rapid slowdown in diesel sales continues – especially among cars in the one-to-three year old bracket – where fewer than one in four buyers are searching for or buying a diesel.

Interest in used EVs on BuyaCar.co.uk has grown fast over the past 12 months, with 14 per cent of visitors to the site initially searching for electric cars during November compared to just 8 per cent during November 2020.

The used car market is generally seen as the acid test for the success of any vehicle type, with less of the marketing focus that helps to drive interest in new cars and more reliance on reputation and consumer trust. BuyaCar, therefore, sees the performance of used EVs as a more reliable indicator of widespread acceptance than new electric vehicle sales, which are backed by heavy manufacturer and media promotion.

Christofer Lloyd, Editor of BuyaCar.co.uk, said: “Consumer acceptance of EVs is certainly picking up pace and there is no better sign of that than how EVs are performing as used cars.

“Only a few years ago there were concerns about whether older batteries would hold their charge sufficiently well to make EVs a confident choice in the used market, but we are regularly delivering electric cars up to six years old.

“Another common assumption was that EVs were destined to be typically a second household vehicle, used mainly as a runabout for local trips and this may be borne out during these early days. Our most popular EV is the Nissan Leaf and other firm favourites are the Renault Zoe and the SmartForFour. However, a number of our customers are replacing their main car with an EV and happily spending up to £40,000 to go electric.”