We should not just look at the kilometers
For a regular used car, kilometers, maintenance history, engine condition, gearbox and body are usually the most concerned information for buyers. For hybrid cars, this list needs to be supplemented with the condition of the battery system.
A car with a low mileage does not necessarily mean that the battery is still in the best condition. The battery life, operating environment, frequency of use, maintenance, and condition of the cooling system can all affect the degradation process.
Therefore, buyers should not only rely on the information on the watch when evaluating a used hybrid. Checking the battery condition with specialized equipment at a specialized facility will help detect problems that are difficult to recognize with the naked eye or a test drive.
A noteworthy point is that used hybrid car buyers currently do not have a common, unified method to quickly assess battery "health" before a transaction. This may become one of the market barriers when the number of used hybrid cars increases.
Buyers should also request to check the hybrid system, including high-voltage batteries, electric motors, controllers and battery cooling systems. Hybride car warranty and maintenance facilities are required to have specialized equipment and tools to serve the inspection and repair of high-voltage systems and batteries as required by the manufacturer.
Warranty and usage history check
Maintenance history is one of the important information when buying a used hybrid car. A car that is periodically maintained, has complete records and a repair history will help buyers assess the actual condition more easily.
The warranty period for hybrid systems also needs to be carefully checked. If the car still has a warranty period for the battery and related parts, buyers can reduce the risk of incurring large costs after receiving the car. Specific warranty policies depend on each manufacturer and each car model, so it is necessary to check the applicable conditions and the possibility of warranty transfer when the car changes ownership.
Buyers should also check if the car has ever had an accident, flooded, or had a high voltage system repaired. These are factors that can affect the reliability of the hybrid system, but they are not always clearly shown through external appearance.
In addition to the battery, the gasoline engine system, gearbox, brake system, air conditioning and electronic devices still need to be checked like a regular old car. Some hybrid cars use regenerative braking systems, so the braking status and coordination between regenerative brakes and mechanical brakes are also worth noting.
In fact, the maintenance cost of hybrid vehicles is not necessarily significantly higher than that of internal combustion engine vehicles, but items related to high voltage systems need to be performed by specialized technicians. Some maintenance facilities currently have their own processes and equipment for hybrid vehicles.
For old hybrid car buyers, the safest way is not to decide solely based on the selling price or kilometers. A car with a clear history, full maintenance, warranty, and transparent hybrid system test results will be more worth considering.
As hybrid cars continue to increase in the Vietnamese market, the formation of an old car market with full information about battery condition and electrification system will become increasingly necessary. This is also a factor that helps buyers have more basis for pricing and limiting risks when switching to using a hybrid car that has been in operation for many years.
