A guide to buying an electric car

In many ways, it becomes harder to choose the best electric car to buy, the more models come onto the market! Several years ago the decision was essentially whether you went in at the high end with the expensive Tesla Model S – offering a range of 200 miles or more – or opted for a more practical and affordable car, with a range of 100 miles or less.

Fast forward to 2023 though, and you have a choice of well over 100 electric cars to buy with more than 200-mile range according to EV Database – and this number is increasing all of the time as more and more cars come to the market.

With range less of a concern now, buyers can choose an electric car based on something more interesting, such as how it looks or drives. New electric family cars like the Volkswagen ID.3, for instance, combine great styling and packaging with exciting performance.

Mini electric cars – like the Fiat 500e – make perfect runabouts in cities and towns. And for those people seeking driving excitement and prestige, there’s a wide selection of premium electric cars to buy from prestigious brands including Audi, Tesla, Mercedes and Jaguar.

To help you decide which electric car is the right car for you to buy, we've put together some lists to help make the decision process a little easier.

The first and most obvious thing to consider is what you’ll use it for. If you need a city-centre runabout or you’re shopping for a second car, you might want to consider a small electric car like the Honda e. Or if you have an expanding family, perhaps an electric SUV like the Hyundai Kona, or a comfortable hatchback like the Tesla Model 3.

Whatever electric car you choose to buy; it needs to fit with your lifestyle. So you need to consider not just the car’s aesthetics, but its range, how it’s charged, and how your mileage and driving style can affect both.

If you’re planning to use your car regularly for long trips, rapid charging points are the best way of charging your car quickly. These are usually located at petrol stations and motorway service stations for convenience. And if this is going to be a necessity, when buying an electric car, make sure you look for one with a connection for rapid charging.

Also check how quickly it can charge at a rapid charging point. While many cars regain 80% of their range in 30 minutes, some take longer. The 64kWh version of the Hyundai Kona Electric, for example, takes 44 minutes to reach about 80% charge.

For those looking for a bargain, this could be the right time to investigate buying second-hand electric cars. As new sales rise, the choice of used and nearly-new electric cars is growing fast. And prices can be reasonable too. For example, on autotrader, a budget of £10,000 will get you a high-spec Nissan Leaf that’s less than five years old.

Buying a used electric car is a great way to save money and cut the environmental impact of your driving too. Plus, electric cars are highly reliable. Find out which EV cars were rated the most reliable in the most recent WhatCar? reliability survey.

Buying a second-hand electric car is much the same as buying a conventional one, but there are some key differences. There’s little under the bonnet for the layman to check, so it may pay to have an expert inspection. It’s also important to check whether the batteries are leased, as this will mean you take on ongoing payments.

For more insight, read our guide to buying a second hand electric car.