You’re standing at a crossroads. There’s a used Tesla Model 3 on one side and a used Toyota Camry on the other — both priced at $25,000. Same sticker. Same budget. Seems like a fair fight, right?
Here’s what nobody tells you upfront: one of those cars will cost you about $28,000 more to own over the next eight years.
I sat down with Julian Sale, founder of Motorize Electric Vehicles here in Sidney, BC, to get his honest take on this exact question. Julian has been helping families and first-time EV buyers across Vancouver Island navigate this decision for years — and his answers might surprise you.
Let’s get into it.
What Does “Value” Actually Mean When Buying a Used Vehicle?
I asked Julian this first, because it’s the foundation everything else builds on.
His answer was refreshingly simple: a car represents good value to you if it does what you expect it to do, for a price you’re happy with. But — and this is the part most buyers miss — that “price” doesn’t end the day you drive off the lot. Fuel, maintenance, repairs, depreciation — it all keeps adding up.
And when you run those numbers honestly? The used EV wins. Almost every time.
The Moment the EV Math Finally Clicks
Most people don’t become EV converts overnight. There’s usually a trigger.
According to Julian, for a lot of people on Vancouver Island, that trigger is standing at the pump. You swipe your card, watch the numbers spin, and suddenly realize your fuel bill for the month is higher than you ever expected — again.
“If you find yourself at the pump wondering how it’s possible that your fuel payment is that high,” Julian told me, “that’s when the math finally clicks. And we will see you at Motorize.”
And here’s what you discover when you do the actual numbers: a used EV doesn’t just save you money on gas — it saves you across the board. No oil changes. Far fewer brake jobs thanks to regenerative braking. No timing belts, no transmission fluid. A gas engine can have 50 or 60 gaskets that can fail. An EV has maybe three or four.
The $28,000 Mistake Most Buyers Make
This one is worth slowing down for.
Julian told me that the biggest mistake people make when comparing a used EV and a used gas car is leading with price. They pick a number — say, $25,000 — and try to find the “best car” at that price.
Makes sense on the surface. But it’s the wrong strategy.
“We did the math the other day,” Julian explained. “A $25,000 Toyota Camry would cost around $68,000 to run over eight years. The Tesla Model 3 at the same price? About $40,000 cheaper over that same period.”
That’s not a rounding error. That’s a life-changing amount of money that could go toward retirement, your kids’ education, or a really nice vacation.
So don’t lead with price. Lead with your requirements. Tell Julian and the team what you need the car to do. They find the right car. And then the car pays you back.
“But What About Depreciation?”
Fair question — and one Julian hears all the time.
Your house you expect to go up in value. Your car? Almost certainly going down. And Julian is clear that EV drivers should absolutely think about depreciation, just like every other car buyer.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Depreciation tells you how much the asset loses in value. Total cost of ownership tells you how much the asset costs you to run. And when you look at the full picture — purchase price plus everything it costs over its lifetime — the EV wins the mathematical calculation for long-term, low-cost ownership. Every time.
Think of it like this: a $25,000 EV that depreciates to $15,000 in five years still cost you less to own than a $25,000 gas car that holds its value better but bleeds thousands more per year in fuel and maintenance.
The asset’s drop in value and the cost to operate it are two separate numbers. Don’t confuse them.
Should You Worry About a Used EV Battery?
This is probably the question I hear most often from readers — and Julian’s answer is reassuring.
“People trust a used EV battery for the same reason they trust a used Honda or Toyota with 200,000 km on it,” he said. “Just because the warranty has expired doesn’t mean the product is about to expire.”
Battery degradation in modern EVs is actually pretty predictable. On average, Julian sees about 2 to 3% capacity loss per year for lower-tech battery packs. The higher-tech packs typically settle in at 88 to 92% state of health — that’s the percentage of original capacity that remains — over the long term.
At 90% SOH, there’s still plenty of range left for most daily driving on the Saanich Peninsula and around Greater Victoria.
Compare that to a used gas car with a complex engine and transmission — thousands of parts that will eventually wear, break, and cost money in ways you simply can’t predict. Hidden engine problems are genuinely expensive. Battery degradation? You can measure it before you buy.
At Motorize, every used EV comes with a battery health report so you know exactly what you’re getting before you commit. No guessing. No surprises.
The Maintenance Misconception Worth Clearing Up
Here’s something interesting Julian pointed out: most people already know EVs are cheaper to maintain. That’s not really a misconception anymore.
But there is one nuance worth understanding: not all EVs cost the same to service.
If you buy a Porsche EV, you’re going to pay Porsche service prices. Volvo EV? Same story. That’s just the brand you signed up for.
But Tesla sits at the lower end of the service cost spectrum. And models like the Nissan LEAF and Chevy Bolt are right there too — relatively affordable to maintain, with widely available parts.
The bottom line: the EV maintenance advantage is real. But shop smart, and match your brand to your budget for servicing as well.
Hybrid vs. EV: What Usually Tips the Decision
A lot of buyers walk into Motorize thinking a hybrid might be the “safe middle ground.” And Julian understands the appeal — keeping a gas engine as a backup feels comforting when you’re making the switch for the first time.
But here’s the reality Julian laid out for me: hybrids actually have higher maintenance costs than both a pure EV and, in many cases, a regular gas car. You’ve got two powertrains to service instead of one. The fuel savings are real, but they don’t always offset the extra complexity under the hood.
The question Julian always starts with is: what’s the use case? Will an EV do the job?
For most people across the Saanich Peninsula and Greater Victoria — yes, absolutely. And once you realize the EV can do the job, the next question becomes: what’s the upside of buying a hybrid instead?
“Usually there’s no upside,” Julian said. “So they just buy the EV.”
What About Home Charging? Does It Change the Equation?
It does — and this matters more than people often realize, especially here on Vancouver Island.
Julian explained that if you’re looking at a shorter-range EV with a smaller battery, you’re basically going to need home charging. Someone living in a condo without charging access might find a short-range EV frustrating. In that case, a longer-range EV — something you could comfortably charge once a week at a public station — makes way more sense.
If you do have home charging available, even a basic 120-volt outlet — that’s Level 1 charging — works fine for many daily drivers. Plug in at night, wake up to a full battery. No gas station, ever.
If you have access to Level 2 charging — a 240-volt outlet, like what your dryer uses — that’s even better. Faster charge speeds, more flexibility.
The key, Julian says, is to check the battery size of any used EV you’re considering against your actual daily driving distance. Get those two things aligned, and home charging becomes one of the biggest quality-of-life upgrades you’ll ever make.
What’s the Best Value Used EV in BC Right Now?
Julian shared a clever way to think about this.
You can divide the sale price of a used EV by the number of kilometres of range it offers. That gives you a dollars-per-kilometre-of-range figure — a simple, practical way to compare value across different models.
When you run that math, a few names rise to the top:
- Chevy Bolt — consistently excellent value per kilometre of range
- Tesla Model 3 — right behind the Bolt, especially for longer-range needs
- Nissan LEAF (the newer big-battery versions) — a great entry point for city driving
- Volkswagen e-Golf — solid used option with good range for its class
The right one for you depends on your range needs, your budget, and what you’re planning to use it for. That’s exactly why Julian and the team at Motorize always start with your use case — not your price point.
How Motorize Determines True Vehicle Value
When Julian is putting a number on a used vehicle — whether he’s appraising a trade-in, buying at auction, or sourcing from another dealer — here’s exactly what gets evaluated:
- Actual vehicle condition — cosmetic, electrical, and mechanical
- Vehicle history — what’s happened to this car and where has it been
- Options and trim — wheels, interior, performance packages, anything that adds real value
- Tires and brakes — often overlooked, always important
- Remaining warranty — factory or extended, how much coverage is left
Those five factors together tell you what a car is actually worth. Not what someone hopes it’s worth. What it’s actually worth.
Fear Is the Only Real Reason People Still Buy Gas Cars
Here’s something Julian has noticed after years of doing this.
When people come in, look at a used EV, and then walk out and buy a gas car instead — it’s almost never because the gas car was a better deal. It’s fear of change.
And you know what? Three years later, they come back. And the first thing they say is: “We should have listened to you last time.”
The EV was the right call then. It’s still the right call now. And it’ll be the right call three years from now too — because the cars keep getting better, the savings keep stacking up, and the technology keeps improving.
As Julian put it: “People will be switching to electric with or without incentives. Because the cars are just that good.”
Ready to Find Your Used EV?
If you’re trying to figure out whether a used EV makes sense for your life in Sidney, Victoria, or anywhere on Vancouver Island — come talk to Julian and the team at Motorize. They’ll start with your use case, match you to the right car, and walk you through the battery health report before you make any decisions.
No pressure. No guessing. Just honest numbers and the right car for you.
📍 Motorize Electric Vehicles — #203-2031 Malaview Ave, Sidney, BC
📞 250-655-3534
