Used electric cars, because the battery can undermine confidence and prices

Purchasing a used car requires time and numerous inspections, focusing on factors that are now well understood by everyone: mileage, any accidents, checking the functionality of ADAS systems, maintenance records, and so on. The advent of electric vehicles has introduced one additional (critical) factor: the health status of the batteries. With electric cars on the road for several years now, the topic of used vehicles is also relevant for those who want to drive electric vehicles.

A study by carVertical (a company specialized in collecting data for the automotive industry) confirms the growing interest in used electric vehicles in Italy. Using internal statistics, they found that inspections related to the history of electric vehicles increased by 30.9% in January and August 2026. Interest in used electric vehicles is on the rise.

Another problem

The lack of transparency regarding the health status of electric vehicle batteries is one of the obstacles facing the market. Yet, the proportion of vehicle history checks related to electric cars among all checks conducted on carVertical has increased (still representing a niche): from 0.35% in 2024 to 0.68% in 2025 (+94.3%), rising to 0.89% in the first eight months of 2026. Among the brands most frequently checked in Italy during 2024–2026, Tesla leads with 38.4% of searches, followed by Audi (11.8%) and smart (8.2%). Volkswagen, Renault, BMW, Mercedes, Fiat, Peugeot, and Porsche complete the top 10.

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This finding is corroborated by sellers. Among a sample of about 50 Italian dealers surveyed in September 2026, 55.1% reported an increase in customer interest over the past year (significantly so for 16.3%), while 28.6% noted stable demand. For 57.1% of dealers, rising gasoline and diesel prices over the past six months have had at least a moderate impact on demand for used electric vehicles.

"The main advantage is price. In their early years, electric cars tend to lose value more rapidly compared to those with internal combustion engines, making relatively new models available on the used market at much more affordable prices."

Matas Buzelis, an automotive market expert at carVertical, explained that those who cannot charge at home or travel long distances daily often continue to prefer internal combustion engines.

Battery concerns slow down sales

For 67.3% of Italian dealers, doubts about battery lifespan and potential failures remain the main source of uncertainty when selling used electric vehicles. 18.4% cite ongoing changes in taxes and incentives instead. 75.5% consider battery concerns a significant obstacle to sales, followed by doubts about actual range (71.4%), an issue related to the depreciation of used electric vehicles.

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Uncertainty also prolongs sales times: 51% of dealers take more than three months, 34.7% take over six months, and only 18.4% complete the sale within a month. The difficulty in estimating the right price also plays a role: for 61.2%, mileage and battery condition are equally important, but 79.6% of dealers claim to lack specific tools for testing the battery.

To address this gap, carVertical has added a section to its reports dedicated to electric vehicles, featuring data on batteries and charging, along with an interactive map that estimates a vehicle’s range from a specific address. The company is also working to include data on the actual battery quality by the end of the year. If they could rely on detailed information about battery condition, 71.4% of dealers expect a significant increase in buyer confidence, 59.2% faster sales, and 55.1% more accurate pricing.

Mileage, lower but not zero risk

69.4% of dealers believe that the odometers of electric vehicles are tampered with less frequently compared to those of combustion engines. Data collected in Italy from 2024 to 2026 confirms this trend: 0.99% of inspected electric vehicles had tampered mileage, compared to 3.22% of diesel vehicles, 2.40% of gasoline vehicles, and 0.97% of hybrid vehicles.

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