Skip to main content
Back

Facts to consider if you are planning to purchase a re-conditioned Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Take your vehicle to a reputed place which has the latest equipment and skilled technicians with a thorough knowledge of hybrid and electric vehicles.

Step one: Test drive and undercarriage visual inspection

 

The first step will be to take a test drive with an expert technician to identify chronic noises and vibrations of the vehicle because an experienced technician can identify major problems through these noises. Also, a test drive will help identify any problems related to the suspension and steering system which is very common in used vehicles. Following this it will be best to put the vehicle on a hoist to conduct a visual inspection of the undercarriage to identify whether the vehicle has encountered any fatal accidents and the status of the suspension system, tyres and break system. This type of inspection allows to identify issues related to the respective systems which may not be identifiable through a regular test drive.

 

Step two:Get an overall scan of the hybrid or electric vehicle you are going to purchase

The second step is to do a total system scan to know all the elements in the hybrid or electric system are in good condition and functioning well. If the battery is a Li-ion battery ask to check the“remaining usable capacity”and get an expert opinion on the status of the battery. In hybrid vehicles when the “remaining usable capacity” goes down the “EV range” of the vehicle also tends to shrink, this will directly affect the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

 

Comprehensive health checkup of the hybrid battery

Instead of a normal scan it will be better to run a comprehensive scan of the “high voltage battery” of the vehicle by using an advance diagnostic tool. To do this type of scan you will need to remove the high voltage battery from the vehicle. Therefore, you may need to get the consent of the previous owner to do the scan.