In countries such as Norway, which have built out robust charging networks, 96% of new car sales are electric vehicles. EVs cost far less to “fuel,” so they will likely dominate local commuter driving in the future. But because EVs have temporarily fallen out of favor in the U.S., used models are shockingly cheap right now.

Here’s a perfect example. A Redditor recently posted in the electric vehicles subreddit that his friend spotted a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt LT listed on Facebook Marketplace for $6,000. He negotiated with the dealership and bought it for $5,000. Because of a recall, the Bolt has a brand-new GM battery under warranty until 2032.

Let’s run the numbers on what an astounding deal this really is.

“Someone posted about seeing a $6,000 Bolt on Facebook Marketplace. I showed it to my friend who bought the car. 2018 LT with 56k miles. He talked the seller down to $5,000.” — Redditor

Why the Bolt’s brand-new battery changes everything for the used EV

Although it’s a 2018 model, GM replaced the battery in 2024. In EV terms, that makes the used car nearly new. GM backed that replacement with its Bolt Battery Limited Part Warranty, which runs through Oct. 20, 2032, or for another 100,000 miles.

If the owner drives the Bolt to that mileage limit, he will have paid about 5 cents per mile for the vehicle itself, plus maintenance. EVs skip most maintenance, such as oil changes, which reduces running costs even further.

But what if he keeps driving it?

A Tesla owner who drives rideshare recently brought a Model 3 with 250,000 miles in for service. The mechanic shared on Reddit that the battery still retained roughly 88% to 90% of its original capacity. At that rate, the car should remain fully usable well past 300,000 miles.

The truth is that many buyers worry too much about EV battery degradation. Batteries lose capacity faster when drivers rely on frequent fast charging or charge them to 100% every time. Drivers who use home charging and trust their car’s battery management software typically see far slower degradation. A modern lithium-ion pack can outlast a modern internal combustion engine.

If this Bolt owner drives the car from 50,000 miles to 300,000 miles, he will put 250,000 miles on the new battery. That works out to roughly 2 cents per mile for the vehicle, plus its minimal maintenance costs.

That cost per mile is almost unheard of. The closest comparison would be somehow finding a low-mileage Toyota Corolla for $10,000 and driving it another 500,000 miles. Even then, fuel and maintenance costs would be far higher. Right now, there is simply nothing on the road cheaper to drive than a used EV.

Next, you can check out cheap used Chevy Bolts near you or read the original Reddit post embedded below:

Update: used EVs hitting rock bottom prices $6,000 Bolt
byu/leeperpharmd inelectricvehicles