Electric Vehicles (EVs) are a growing part of the automotive fleet. The biggest reason for moving to an EV is that they don’t burn fossil fuels, so they have a much smaller impact on climate change. They are also smoother, quieter, usually faster and less expensive to operate.
But new ones are expensive. While cars in general have become pricier over the last few years, many new EVs are simply out of reach for the average buyer. The answer? Buy a late-model used one that’s already depreciated.
But where do you get one?
Most car dealerships don’t really like EVs, because they aren’t as profitable and don’t generate as much after-sale business from regular oil changes, tuneups, and other maintenance services that internal-combustion-engine (ICE) vehicles require. And the dealership employees may not be well trained in how to help customers buy or lease an EV.
One Company Sells Only Used EVs
Ever Cars was co-founded in 2022 by three smart guys with a vision. CEO Lasse-Mathias Nyberg has a Stanford MBA and consulting experience. CTO TJ Casner has a computer science and mechanical engineering background along with automotive experience—and was a pro soccer player! COO Maximilian Quertermous brings a Stanford MBA and a financial background to the company.
Ever Cars buys and sells only used EVs, in a wide range of prices spanning 30 different brands and more than 200 models and trim levels. The goal is to make it as easy as possible to transact business, whether it’s giving sellers the best price for their car or offering buyers the best selection and lowest prices of EVs. Ever will even come out, buy your ICE vehicle and deliver your EV. They do all the paperwork, offer financing and have a seven-day return policy. And it’s haggle-free, so pricing is transparent.
Ever Cars provides a 150-point inspection and an additional warranty on top of any remaining manufacturer’s warranty. It’s selective, putting only top-notch vehicles into its wide inventory.
Today, Ever Cars maintains a 400-car facility in downtown San Francisco and a larger Southern California location, but most of their business is online. They have bought and sold cars in more than 40 states. They had a successful funding round earlier this year that will be used to expand their brick-and-mortar locations into some of those states.
Two Personal Examples of Why Used EVs Make Sense
At the end of three happy years of leasing my 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, I considered buying it, but the price felt too high. Instead, I found a 2017 Fiat 500e EV with 24,000 miles on it that looked showroom new. This car cost more than $30,000 new, but I bought it for a cool $10,000. EVs have so many fewer parts to wear out, that at three years old with 24K on the clock, they are essentially new.
Move forward four years, and my little Fiat was going strong, but still had the same two weaknesses—limited cargo space and a battery range of less than 100 miles. I visited a Hyundai dealership and found out that they were having a sale on the Ioniq 5 hatchback/crossover. I was able to lease a new 2024 Ioniq 5 SEL for two years at only $264 a month (including tax), after giving them the paid-off Fiat in trade.
Personal Note: Of all the major manufacturers, Hyundai offers several fine EVs and knows how to sell and lease them.
Before I know it, It’s spring of 2026 and the Ioniq 5 lease is ending soon. I started looking around while checking on the price to buy my car. The dealer quoted the original bring-back value on the lease paperwork: $35,000. I found that comparable vehicles were selling for closer to $25,000 on the open market (including numerous listings at Ever Cars!). I found a nice 2023 Ioniq 5 with 19,000 miles on it for less than $24,000 at, of all places, the local Chevrolet dealer.
Ever Cars can help you find the electric vehicle that works for you at a price you can afford. And they really know what they’re talking about. Be sure to visit their website and their YouTube channel.
Story by Steve Schaefer, who works for Rivian, but the opinions expressed here are his own.
