Myths about electric cars that are complete nonsense!
Electric cars have long been a part of everyday life on Swiss roads. Around a quarter of all new cars now have a fully electric drive. This means that there are also more and more used electric cars available. So the following question is slowly becoming a valid one:
Is it a good idea to buy or lease a used electric car?
In short: yes.
If you believe that used electric cars have a short range, are constantly breaking down, or should simply be avoided altogether, then you have fallen victim to misinformation. Many of these misconceptions are simply false and do not correspond to reality. And yet they persist.
Here we refute all of these myths. By the end of our article, you will finally be properly informed when it comes to used electric cars. Let's go.
Discover used electric cars from Gowago
The reality of used electric cars at a glance:
Don't have much time, but still want to know everything about electric cars? We've summarised the most important information for you here. But if you want to know more, just click on the link below the summaries. We go into even more detail for you in our individual articles for each myth.
Myth 1: Used electric cars have too little range.
False: All modern electric cars, whether new or used, have sufficient range for normal everyday use in Switzerland. On average, people in Switzerland drive 33 km per day. Most electric cars today can travel 250–500 km per charge. This is hardly reduced in used cars. After 300,000 km, which is an extremely high mileage for a used car, you can still expect 80-85% of the initial range. Used electric cars can therefore easily cover daily commutes and leisure trips.
Find out more about the range of new and used electric cars. ⇨
Myth 2: The battery of a used electric car needs to be replaced.
Completely false: Lithium-ion batteries are designed to last up to 500,000 kilometres and lose capacity very slowly. The battery itself rarely needs to be replaced. Just in case, most manufacturers also offer a multi-year warranty on the battery and drive system.
Myth 3: Electric cars are a bad investment because they depreciate more quickly.
Half-truth: New cars are always an investment that depreciates in value – regardless of whether they are combustion engines or electric cars. Electric cars lose an average of 48.5% of their value in the first three years, 12.5 percentage points more than petrol cars. However, this means that used electric cars are significantly cheaper than comparable combustion engines. As used cars, electric cars are therefore very good deals.
Find out why a used electric car is the perfect investment. ⇨
Myth 4: Used electric cars are unreliable and break down quickly.
Nonsense: Electric cars are more reliable and require less maintenance than combustion engines. Why? An electric car has 90% fewer moving parts than a combustion engine. There is no clutch, no timing belt, no exhaust system. This means less wear and tear and fewer repairs for electric cars. For you, this means fewer visits to the garage and lower maintenance costs.
Find out why an electric car won't plague you with endless repairs and servicing. ⇨
Myth 5: A used electric car is already technologically outdated.
False: On the contrary, they actually get better and more modern over the years! Many electric cars receive constant, free software updates that improve functionality and efficiency. These updates are delivered ‘over the air’, i.e. wirelessly, without you having to drive to the garage.
Find out what an ‘over-the-air’ update is and what updates have been available in recent years. ⇨
Myth 6: Used batteries must be recycled, which is harmful to the environment.
False: Thanks to their longevity, batteries are usually given a second life and used elsewhere, for example as energy storage for solar systems. Only when this is no longer possible are they recycled. However, modern recycling processes ensure that up to 95% of the valuable raw materials can be recovered.
Myth 7: Electric cars are no more environmentally friendly than combustion engines.
False: Even when powered by electricity from fossil fuel sources, electric cars emit significantly less CO₂ over their lifetime than combustion engines. The greatest environmental impact of an electric car occurs during its manufacture, after which it offsets its impact. A combustion engine car, however, emits CO₂ throughout its entire lifetime. And if you buy a used electric car and use renewable energy to power it, you reduce your carbon footprint twice over.
Find out why a used electric car is the most environmentally friendly type of car. ⇨
Myth 8: Electric cars are more expensive to run.
False: Electric cars, even second-hand ones, are significantly cheaper per kilometre than combustion engines. If you can charge at home, the running costs are 50% to 70% lower than for a petrol or diesel car. You save not only on electricity, but also on maintenance costs: no V-belts, no oil filters, no clutch or other parts that wear out and need repairing. Even the brakes last longer thanks to recuperation.
Find out how much you can save with an electric car. ⇨
Myth 9: Not everyone can set up a charging station at home, and home charging stations are very expensive anyway.
Double false: The right to charge is definitely being introduced in Switzerland. So if you rent or own a flat, you will have the right to install a charging station at your place of residence in future. The so-called wallbox will then be installed by professionals in compliance with strict safety standards. Cost: between 800 and 1,500 Swiss francs. But thanks to the ever-increasing number of public charging points, you could also do without one.
Find out how to get a wallbox and what the right to charge means here. ⇨
Conclusion
If you've come back here after reading all the articles, then you know:
Used electric cars are a really smart choice.
The common preconceptions, from supposedly weak batteries to insufficient range, are no longer true. Today's batteries last for decades and will still get you comfortably to your destination even after hundreds of thousands of kilometres.
Thanks to over-the-air updates, electric cars continue to evolve rather than age. This means that even as a used car, you get a vehicle that remains technically state-of-the-art and reliably takes you from A to B.
Added to this are lower maintenance costs, low operating expenses and a well-thought-out battery recycling system that conserves raw materials and reduces the burden on the environment. With a pre-owned electric car, you not only drive sustainably and affordably, but also worry-free – and from day one, you have a modern, comfortable car that you really enjoy.
Safety with Gowago Certified Pre-Owned Electric Cars
At Gowago, we know how important it is to have clarity when you are considering buying a used electric car. That's why all Gowago Certified Pre-Owned electric cars are thoroughly inspected by independent professionals. You also receive a battery certificate that shows you the condition of your electric car's battery. We also give you at least a 12-month warranty on the car – but many come with a 3+ year warranty on the battery and drive system. Let's go.
Discover used electric cars from Gowago
