While new EVs remain on the pricey side for lower-income buyers, there are great values available on the used market. Sadly, few realize this, and myths and misinformation abound. A recent study from the buyer intelligence firm Autolist compared buyer perceptions of used EVs to market data, and found a major disconnect.

Fact vs Fiction: Public Perception of Used EVs is based on 1,249 vehicle owners and 17,738 used vehicles.

The survey found that, on average, buyers thought a used EV would cost $5,000 more than an equivalent legacy vehicle. In fact, the opposite is more likely to be true. For example, Autolist found that a typical used 2015 Nissan LEAF is less expensive than either a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla, and has lower mileage.

Autolist found that, after vehicle range, reliability is the biggest concern of prospective plug-in buyers, with 41% of respondents citing it as their top worry. In fact, according to user ratings, the 2015 Nissan LEAF and Chevrolet Volt both have better than average reliability, and the LEAF scores better than the famously reliable Civic and Corolla.

Source: Autolist