Considering an EV? Buy used!
EVs have been available for a long time now. Their benefits are many, although not always obvious to some:
Better for the environment
Less expensive to operate
Quiet
Fast
I think those are all pretty great reasons. If you disagree, try driving one and you’ll change your opinion about EVs real quick. There is a reason that once people switch to an EV they never want to go back to a gas car.
Anyway, if you’re in the market for a vehicle, you would be crazy not to consider an EV. There is one caveat, though. New EVs are still rather expensive. That’s where used EVs come into play.
Buy Used, Save Money
Buying a used gas car is always a bit of a gamble. You don’t know how the engine was treated. Were the oil changes done on time? What about other fluids? If the mileage is high, you may need expensive timing belt/chain, water pump and turbo replacements. It’s all a bit scary.
However, with a used EV there are far fewer things to worry about. There is little to no maintenance that will have been needed. The primary battery has at least an 8 year warranty and will surely outlast the car itself. Since there is no engine to worry about, a visual inspection can often tell you all you need to know about the vehicle.
The used EV market has had its ups and downs in the past year, but overall there were 378,140 used EVs sold in 2025. That is up 35% from 2024 and now represents about 2% of the used-vehicle market.
For much of last year, the tax credit helped many people afford a used EV, but now that it has expired some people might be thinking that owning an EV is out of reach. That’s just not true. Used EVs remain a tremendous bargain. You can often get a lightly used EV for 50% off the original price!
The hardest part about buying a used EV is finding one that meets your needs. Most small used car dealers only have gas vehicles. Larger franchise dealers might have a few used EVs, but that means you’re forced to visit many different dealers to try out various cars. And if you do find one you like, negotiating with a traditional used car dealer is often a hassle.
Green Wave EV, Used EVs Made Simple
A simpler way to find a used EV is to go to a dealer that specializes in used EVs. If you live in northern New England, one such dealer is Green Wave EV in North Hampton, New Hampshire.
And a second location just opened in Salem, MA!
I’ve known about Green Wave for a while and recently got to spend some time chatting with owner Jesse Lore. Unlike other used car dealers, Green Wave is a breath of fresh air.
Let me point out just a few high points:
Salespeople do not work on commission.
Vehicles are all reasonably priced.
Knowledgable staff that wants to find the right EV for you.
Recurrent EV report with information about range, charging speed and battery.
Large selection of vehicles that refreshes regularly.
Speaking of the selection, I’d like to highlight a couple vehicles that Green Wave has for sale.
Polestar 2
If you’ve been reading this blog/newsletter for a while, you know I currently drive a Polestar 2. It’s my favorite car ever. A Polestar 2 is a 408hp sports sedan that is actually a liftback, making it fast, fun and practical.
Green Wave actually has three Polestar 2 models in stock as I write this, from about $19,900 to $24,000. So for the price of a used Honda Civic you can instead step up to a Polestar 2 which is a better car in every way. A Polestar 2 is much more luxurious, significantly faster and some models even have all-wheel drive (aka dual-motor in the EV world), which is obviously great for New England winters.
Of the three models that are available at Green Wave, I think this 2021 Launch Edition is a great value at $22,360. This is essentially the same as the one I have and being a Launch Edition means that it has the Plus pack (killer Harman/Kardon stereo, glass roof, WeatherTech seats and more) and the Pilot pack (safety features including fog lights, adaptive cruise control, 360 degree camera and more) so it is pretty loaded.
If you’re in the market for an EV that is fun to drive, has stunning looks while also being practical, then you need to check out a Polestar 2 at Green Wave.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
When I talked with Jesse, he told me that the Ioniq 5 is their most popular EV. That’s not really surprising as the Ioniq 5 is the type of EV that people really want these days. It’s an SUV that is quick, roomy and practical. Plus, most models are all-wheel drive.
I really like the Ioniq 5 and if I were looking for an SUV, it would be high on my list. I love its “pixel” styling, which is fun and unique. It really stands out. The interior is spacious and comfortable making it perfect for a small family.
The Ioniq 5 is also very efficient for an SUV and it charges incredibly fast at public fast charge stations, making it an ideal EV for road trips.
As of this writing, Green Wave has seven Ioniq 5 models available ranging from $21,000 to $31,000. Of these, I particularly like this 2023 Ioniq 5 SEL for $24,500. It still has plenty of Hyundai’s 5-year warranty available and the SEL strikes a good balance with its features, including all-wheel drive and a heated steering wheel.
Lots More to Choose From
As I write this, Green Wave has another 90+ EVs to choose from, so you’re sure to find something interesting.
This Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which I’ve never seen before, is wild!
When it comes to shopping for an EV, I can’t stress these two things enough:
Shop for a used one. You’ll save a lot of money.
Visit a used EV store like Green Wave. You’ll save a ton of time.
This article has tripled my admittedly non-existent knowledge of EVs. I never considered buy-ing a used one, assuming it would be too hard to find one I liked and could afford. I happen to live in CT too, so these recommendations are a propos.
I've never seen some of these cars but some of them look pretty spiffy. Only downside I can see is that you'd have to take one to the dealer for service. I'm assuming my local garage would be clueless (and/or partless).
Thanks for the tip.