EV-only retailer Car360 says the average time it takes to buy, prepare and sell a used EV has fallen from 57 days earlier this year to under 30 days currently, while rival EV Experts has seen a similar shift.
The appetite for used EVs is not just being seen on forecourts. Octopus Electric Vehicles, Britain’s biggest EV-only leasing business, has seen demand for used EVs jump by 150 percent year-on-year, as drivers look for more affordable routes to go electric.
At Car360, Fewer than 2 percent of used vehicles are returned, with most returns linked to practical reasons like adjusting the car size to fit their lifestyle. Competitor EV Experts reports zero returns.
“The days of convincing people to go electric are largely behind us” said James Buxton, COO of Car360. “Most customers have done their research and want expert advice on things like battery health, charging and which car is right for them. The clearest sign of how much the market has changed is how quickly cars are selling. Earlier this year it took us 57 days on average to buy, prepare and sell an EV. Today it's less than 30. People aren't just browsing used EVs anymore, they're buying them.”
As drivers become more confident about electric cars, dealerships have to raise their game too. Customers are increasingly walking into showrooms having done their homework on charging, batteries and running costs. That means staff at dealerships need to know their stuff, rather than just persuade customers to go electric.
Greenhous Group has built more tech-focused teams with greater EV expertise, while Johnsons Fleet Services encourages sales staff to drive EVs as company cars so they have first-hand experience of charging and running them.
“We've seen the time between buying an EV and selling it halve to under 30 days” added Martin Miller of EV Experts. “That's a pretty clear signal of where demand is heading. Increasingly, buyers know they want an EV. Our job is to understand how they'll use it and make sure they choose the right one.”
Octopus Electric Vehicles says the shift is increasingly visible across its dealer network, with more groups investing in EV expertise and customer experience.
As used EVs sell faster, leasing demand surges and dealerships build their expertise, the second-hand EV market is starting to look less like a new technology finding its feet and more like a fundamental part of the car market. For drivers, it also means more choice: newer technology and capabilities are increasingly available at used-car prices, putting pressure on older petrol and diesel cars to justify their value.
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