Several best used electric cars

A short glance around confirms that electric vehicles have entered the mainstream of transportation.

EV sales have risen this year, up 88 percent from 2021, as a mix of carrots and sticks persuades purchasers to switch from gasoline or diesel to all-electric power.

The allure of lower operating costs and cleaner driving, along with an increasing number of towns imposing limits and financial penalties on older and more polluting vehicles, has inflated the market.

However, because electric vehicles are currently more expensive than their gasoline or diesel equivalents, not everyone can afford a new electric vehicle. Thankfully, the new vehicle industry's success is also filtering down to the used car market, and there are plenty of decent used EVs to choose from.

As with any used automobile, do your homework to ensure the vehicle is good for you - consider range and charging options. Before giving over any money, thoroughly inspect the automobile for flaws and investigate its history.

1. BMW i3 - From £13,500

The i3 was a trendsetter of Bmw Used Cars when it was introduced in 2013, and its cutting design, carbon fiber construction, and luxury eco-friendly interior still seem futuristic today. Most i3s have a 168bhp motor, but the i3 S boosts it to 181bhp for even more brisk performance. Early variants came with a modest 22kWh battery that could only run 120 miles when new. Later models received a 33kWh unit, which extended range to 160 miles, and in 2018, a 42kWh option was offered, bringing the theoretical maximum to 193 miles. For those concerned about the limited range, there's a range-extender variant that adds roughly 80 miles of range by using a small petrol engine as a generator for the batteries.

Many of the vehicles on our list lack the large batteries and remarkable range of the latest models, but they are still still excellent options for switching to all-electric motoring, regardless of the sort of vehicle you want.

2. Nissan Leaf (starting at £4,700)

The Leaf is the grandfather of popular electric vehicles, delivering a normal family hatchback with electric propulsion. You may get one for less than £5,000 if you buy one that is over 11 years old. These older cars, on the other hand, had modest batteries to begin with (about 80 miles of real-world range) and are likely to have lost a significant amount of that range by now, making them more suitable as a backup vehicle or a local runaround. Later first-generation cars had a 30kWh battery for increased range, but if you can afford it, the second-generation model was a significant upgrade inside and out, with battery options ranging from 168 to 239 miles.

3. Renault Zoe, starting at £7,000

The Zoe is another long-term EV that has seen improvements in battery capacity, range, and equipment over time. It's a quick little supermini with strong performance and, in later versions, a considerable range. In the first-generation automobile, a growing variety of battery and motor combinations provided between 93 and 150 miles of range. New engine and battery choices for the second generation cars provided between 238 and 245 miles per charge. Just bear in mind that many first-generation and early second-generation cars were offered with a battery lease, which reduces upfront costs but requires drivers to pay a monthly charge to Renault.

4. Hyundai Ioniq (starting at £18,000)

The original Ioniq, not to be confused with the more contemporary Ioniq 5, was unique in that it could be purchased as a full hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or pure electric vehicle. It's currently a pretty reasonable and practical solution for people wanting to make the EV conversion, since it's a smart and well-equipped family hatchback with a respectable range. Early vehicles had a stated range of 174 miles with the smaller 28kWh battery, but a 2019 facelift included extra technology and a 38kWh battery with a claimed range of 193 miles.