Used EV Sales Show Us That EVs Aren’t Stalling Out

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If you have opened a newspaper or scrolled through your news feed lately, you have likely seen the headlines. “EV Sales Stalling.” “Inventory Piling Up.” “Americans Reject Electric Cars.”

It seems like a compelling narrative, largely because you see it EVERYWHERE. Media outlets that are openly in the bag for fascism and big oil are beating that drum almost every day. More subtle are the little jabs from local news outlets that maintain the appearance of political neutrality, but have been bought up by billionaires and conservative investors looking to suck up to the boss. There are also hordes of AI-powered fake social media accounts trying to convince us all that the hatred for EVs is a grassroots phenomenon.

But if you dig into the actual sales data from January 2026, you realize that this story isn’t just misleading, it’s flat-out wrong. Demand for electric vehicles hasn’t stalled (even if the rate of growth in sales has slowed). It has just moved to a place where corporate media rarely looks: the used car lot.

The Invisible Boom

While automakers wring their hands over slowing growth rates for $50,000+ new trucks and SUVs, the secondary market is exploding. According to the latest market data from Cox Automotive, used EV sales jumped 21.2% in January 2026 compared to last year.

That isn’t a “stall.” That is most definitely a boom. And it is happening for one simple, undeniable reason: The price is finally right.

The “Price Flip” Has Arrived, But With Zero Fanfare

For years, we have been waiting for the moment when an EV would cost the same as a gas car, and not just in terms of TCO (total cost of ownership), which most buyers don’t pay attention to. I’m talking about the actual out-the-door price going below what you’d pay for a comparable ICE vehicle from a dealer.

Here’s the thing: we blew past that milestone in late 2025 without anyone noticing. Data shows the price gap between used EVs and gas cars has narrowed to a historic low. For many buyers, the “more expensive” used EV is now the cheaper option, sometimes by thousands of dollars. On average, EVs are now beating their used fossil fuel counterparts by over $3,000 BEFORE considering the lower cost of operation.

This flips the entire “EVs are too expensive” script on its head. When a family can save thousands up front and cut their fuel bill in half or better by choosing electric, the “ideological” resistance to EVs tends to evaporate pretty quickly. The data proves that buyers aren’t rejecting the technology when it’s within reach.

These Aren’t Degraded Clunkers

The most common counter-argument I hear is, “Sure, they’re cheap, but who wants a 10-year-old EV with a degraded battery?”

That might have been true five years ago, but the market has changed. The inventory flooding dealer lots right now isn’t made up of tired first-gen LEAFs with 30 miles of EV range on the guess-o-meter and maybe 15–20 on the road. We’re talking about next to new vehicles with useful range and charging speeds.

Data from Recurrent Auto shows that 55% of used EV inventory is from the 2023 model year or newer.

We are talking about cars that are barely two years old. These are lease returns from the peak “loophole” era of 2023–2024. They have modern thermal management, 250+ miles of range, and battery warranties that are still valid for another 6–8 years.

In other words, buyers aren’t picking through scraps. They are picking up nearly-new technology for 40–50% off MSRP after someone else took the depreciation hit.

The “LEAF Killers” Are Real

This context is exactly why Nissan had to cancel that $27,000 “Cheap LEAF” we talked about yesterday. Against this used market, a stripped-down new car never stood a chance.

Just look at what that same $20,000–$25,000 budget gets you in the real world right now:

• Used Tesla Model 3 (2021–2023): You can now easily find these for $22,000–$25,000. That gets you access to the Supercharger network, 270+ miles of range, and 250 kW charging speeds.
• Used Chevy Bolt EUV (2022–2023): If you just need a reliable commuter, these are trading hands for $16,000–$19,000. That is an insanely good value for a car with 247 miles of range and liquid cooling that can handle Phoenix temperatures.
• Used Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2022): We are finally seeing early examples dip into the $25,000 range. That is an 800-volt charging architecture—capable of 10-80% charges in 18 minutes—for the price of a base Honda Civic.

Final Thoughts

The explosion of the used market proves that the “demand problem” is a myth. Americans are buying EVs in record numbers. They are just refusing to pay the “Early Adopter Tax” anymore.

This sends a clear signal to manufacturers. The days of de-contenting cars to hit a price point are over. You can’t sell a compromised “budget” EV when the used market is offering uncompromised flagships for the same price.

The challenge for the next generation of EVs isn’t to convince people to buy them. The challenge is to build a new EV that offers better value than a comparable ICE vehicle. With battery prices continuing to fall, this is a goal that’s within reach.

Featured Image: A Bolt EUV I used to own driving in the mountains of southern New Mexico. You can get these CHEAP now!