How to tell if used electric car's battery is worn out

BERLIN: If you’re considering buying a used electric car, there are some things to bear in mind, in particular regarding the battery.

Given the limited charging infrastructure in most parts of the world, you don’t want to end up with a worn-out battery that won’t hold a decent charge.

That's why the health status of the battery is most important, and older used cars with very low mileage can be risky, according to specialists.

If the electric car you're looking at was used only sparingly as a second car, it was probably often connected to the charger for long periods even when fully charged. This is something that damages the battery.

Running the battery until it’s completely empty also damages it in the long run.

For that reason you should ask the car owner about their charging behaviour and driving style before you buy.

It helps if the charging limit was activated. This allows the recharging of the battery to be capped at a predefined level — the default setting is often 80 per cent.

If that hasn’t happened, it’s an indication that the battery has often been charged to its limit. As a result, it will be worn down more than necessary, according to the experts at German car industry mag Auto Motor und Sport.

This is particularly important for electric cars that have been driven a lot over long distances and which have often been charged at a fast charger. Slow charging takes less of a toll on the battery.

However, you may be lucky enough to find a second-hand electric car that has already had its battery replaced with a new one.

That happens when the battery falls below a certain capacity and the manufacturer is obliged by warranty to replace it.