10 Things To Look For When Buying A Used Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle

With depreciation being among the greatest costs for car owners, used cars are often a very attractive option for prospective buyers. The reduced cost is obviously the main attraction, but older models of cars can feature superior engines, layouts or design features to their new counterparts. For many people, the first car they purchase will be a used one, so picking the right one is important.

As automotive technology has developed over the past two decades, new vehicle types have become more available in the used market. One simple example of this is hybrids. Mild hybrids (with an electric motor that assists the traditional internal combustion engine) have been popular for over two decades, but more recently plug-in hybrids, which have an entirely separate system of electrification, have sprung onto the scene. With a new style of powertrain comes new complications for owners and buyers. Here are a few things you may want to know before buying a used plug-in hybrid.

This is a list about used cars. While we make every attempt to verify facts and back up any speculation, the information provided below may not be entirely accurate or may change. We will make every effort to update this content with new developments as they arise. All information contained here was obtained from authoritative sources, including manufacturer websites and Kelly Blue Book.

1

Do You Have A Home Charger?

The greatest advantage of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is that it can do the job of both an electric car and a gasoline-powered one. For short trips, it can use all-electric power, and for long ones, you can fill up at the pump. To take advantage of this, it makes the most sense to have a charger installed in your home to ensure that the battery can always be in play for those quick trips to the grocery store or to pick up the kids from school.

Make Sure Your Charger Is Compatible With Your PHEV

• Certain chargers work with certain vehicles. Tesla, for example, uses the North American Charging Standard (NACS) while many other automakers use the Combined Charging Standard (CCS).
• Fortunately, however, many automakers have agreed to join Tesla’s NACS to access its vast charging network, but this will likely not apply to an older used PHEV.
• Installation of a charger will likely cost several hundred or even over a thousand dollars.
• Charging comes in 120-volt (Level 1), 240-volt (Level 2), and DC fast charging grades. Ensure your PHEV is compatible with whatever level you have, the higher the level, the faster the charge.

Considering that charging an EV is significantly cheaper than purchasing gasoline, owning a home charger is a crucial part of tapping into the cost savings of a PHEV. While you could theoretically exclusively use public chargers, they are more expensive and generally worse for your battery. In general, a home charger should be seen as a prerequisite to buying a used PHEV.

2

Check On The Maintenance Requirements

Maintenance is an important part of car ownership. Keeping up to date should prevent headaches down the line and ensure your car performs the best it can in any given situation. Unfortunately, a PHEV doubles the amount of maintenance that may need to be done. With two separate drivetrains in one single car, it means that maintenance will become a bit more tricky.

The Traditional Powertrain And Electric Motors Will Require Individual Maintenance Plans

• While maintaining an ICE car is fairly simple, the electric motor adds a wrinkle to the subject.
• For example, oil and filters must be changed between 5,000 and 10,000 miles, but parts of the electric drivetrain like electric battery cooling systems must also be inspected at certain intervals.
• Finding a service center that can do both is likely the best option for PHEV owners.

Working out where your car will be maintained and how often is a key factor in purchasing a car. Unfortunately, it’s a bit more of a pain for a PHEV. One silver lining is that a PHEV’s regenerative braking will make it so that brake pads and fluids are changed less frequently, however.

3

The Age Of The Vehicle

When looking at any used car, age will always be a factor. Older vehicles will have outdated technology, and, of course, parts that are closer to failure. Over 100,000 miles, almost any part of a car is liable to fail. While an older car typically will have more miles on it, that is not 100% certain. However, some parts are age-sensitive rather than mileage-sensitive. Unfortunately, in a PHEV, there are double the systems to go wrong.

Older Batteries Will Need To Be Replaced Sooner

• The chief issue with the age on a PHEV is that of the battery. Unlike other parts, the parts of a battery degrade with age more than they do with mileage.
• Current estimates sit at about 8 to 10 years of battery life, which is good because it’s unlikely you’ll even find a desirable PHEV close to 10 years old.
• Battery replacement is also a dubious proposition to begin with as replacing a battery can be as expensive as the value of your used PHEV.

As PHEVs are a newer development, it’s likely that your used PHEV will not be near the end of its life cycle. That’s good, because replacing a battery can cost around $10,000. Making sure the battery is in good shape is crucial to the purchase of a used PHEV.

4

Is The Car Eligible For A Tax Credit?

As electric alternatives to ICE cars remain burgeoning in the US, the government continues to incentivize the purchase of these vehicles. For the consumer that’s a good thing. It’s not just EVs, but PHEVs that get these monetary incentives. One of the first things you should look at for a used PHEV purchase is whether or not it will render you richer with a tax credit.

Certain PHEVs Can Get You $4,000

• Used vehicle credits are available for vehicles under $25,000 that are 2 model years old or older than the time of purchase.
• The tax credit will be 30% of the sale price up to $4,000.
• You must earn under certain thresholds ($150,000 combined household income, $112,000 head of household or $75,000 single) to qualify.

PHEVs not only should save you money at the pump but on your taxes too. A $4,000 credit is nothing to shake a finger at. If nothing else it should make the purchase of the vehicle significantly more affordable.

5

What Climate Was The Car Driven In?

Where you drive your car matters. If you live in a place with lots of salt (either in the air from the ocean, or on the roads during the winter) your car will be more susceptible to rust. If you live in a place where lots of dust enters your vehicle (from driving off-road or due to wind picking it up off the ground) your electrics will suffer. The same can be said for parts of PHEVs, climate, in particular, will have a serious effect on the battery.

More Extreme Temperatures Do More Damage To The Battery

• Batteries can be damaged by temperature. Both cold and heat are issues.
• Freezing cold will make range suffer as well as make charging times longer. Charging in cold weather can also damage the battery.
• Heat can also significantly reduce range and slow charging. It will also do even more damage to the battery. Even just sitting in the sun on a scorching hot day will damage the battery.

Knowing the conditions a used car was driven in is very helpful in selecting the right used vehicle for you. When it comes to PHEVs, you’d prefer something driven in a mild climate like coastal California or South Carolina. It’s also important to note that if you live in an extreme climate, you will do damage to the battery in the same way.

6

How Did The Owner Use The Battery?

Clearly, the health of the battery is the most important element of buying a used PHEV (or EV for that matter). With batteries so overwhelmingly expensive to replace, making sure the one in your car works when you buy it is absolutely vital. Just like with a cell phone or tablet, how the battery is charged factors into its health in the future.

Rapid Charging As Well As Full Charging And Discharging Harm The Battery

• EV makers recommend not allowing the battery to go under 20- or over 80-percent when charging and discharging.
• Similarly, EV makers do not recommend using fast chargers as the main way of charging, citing similar issues with battery damage.
• Not following these guidelines will lead to reduced range and less efficient discharge of the battery.

Checking how the previous owner used the battery should help you know whether you’ll be suffering from some reduced range in the future. Of course, this may become the “driven by an old lady to church on Sundays” for the next generation, “only charged from 20% to 80%, never on a fast charger”. However, it is certainly something to keep in mind.

7

Warranty Information

With the replacement of parts like batteries being so expensive, making sure the warranty still applies to your used PHEV is a good idea. Standard manufacturer warranties are typically based on time and mileage, not ownership. Buying a lower mileage car should have left good leeway for the next owner.

Make Sure The Electric Drivetrain Is Covered

• Most major automakers offer strong warranties for PHEVs that include long term plans for hybrid components.
• The Prius Prime, for example, comes with an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on the hybrid parts of the PHEV.
• Batteries are typically covered by a separate warranty. Continuing the above example, all Toyota hybrids, PHEVs, and EVs get an 8-year/150,000-mile battery warranty.

Protecting your investment in a PHEV with a strong warranty is a good idea. It’s possible a dealer may offer an extended warranty, which is another thing a buyer may want to consider. Having protecting when things go wrong is not a bad idea, especially since PHEVs may be more expensive to repair.

8

Software Updates

Modern cars have significantly more technology than those of the past. EV and PHEVs have more still than their ICE counterparts. Things like charging speeds or electric transmissions can be controlled by software updates. Sometimes this means issues can be fixed just by pushing a new update, which is much more convenient than having to head to the dealer.

Modern PHEVs Are Constantly Getting New Software Packs

• Some updates come OTA (over the air, via wifi or mobile network), and others will have to be pushed from a computer, likely at the dealer.
• Making sure your car is as up-to-date as it can will help you get the most performance out of your car.
• If this all sounds very annoying, then it may be worth researching which PHEVs this least impacts.

Some drivers report updates improving everything from driving quality to regenerative braking. However, others lament the complexity in knowing which updates to select and use. Unfortunately we cannot put the toothpaste back in the tube when it comes to software in PHEVs. Software updates are here to stay for these vehicles.

9

Service Records

Servicing a car is a crucial part of making sure it stays on the road and is safe to run. Looking at the service history of a used car can tell you a lot about how the previous owner treated it. This is not any different for PHEVs.

As With Any Car, Make Sure It has Been Properly Serviced

• PHEVs have additional components to worry about compared to ICE cars, making service doubly important.
• As previously mentioned, ensuring the integrity of the battery is absolutely crucial for a used PHEV, as a replacement is often more expensive than the car itself.
• Sites like CarFax can help show the service history of used PHEVs that you are looking to buy.

This is no-brainer used car purchase information. That being said, with PHEVs having additional parts that are more expensive to replace, it is something that you arguably should be more concerned about.

10

Has The Car Been In An Accident?

Once again, when looking at a used vehicle, accident history is a crucial part of the decision-making process. While minor accidents with cosmetic damage are often nothing to worry about, it may make more sense to just go for a car with a clean record.

PHEVs Can Have Even More Complications With Accident History

• As we’ve mentioned, the additional components of a PHEV can give an additional headache when it comes to buying a damaged used car.
• Once again, the battery is the star of the show. A battery damaged in an accident would not just be worrisome due to decreased range, but could potentially be extremely dangerous to the passengers inside.
• Beyond accidents, you should also be looking out for any recalls on your PHEV. If a recall has been issued but not replaced, ensure the dealer will make the repair before the sale, or avoid the car altogether.

Making sure your used car is safe to drive should probably be your top priority. Avoiding a damaged vehicle or one with recalls is another piece of blanket advice for used car purchases, but it absolutely needs to be said regardless.

If you’re searching for a used PHEV, we wish you the best of luck with your purchase. We hope it can bring you savings both at the fuel station and in the form of a nice four-figure tax credit.