Buying a cheap EV for delivery: 100-mile range cars compared
Are older, cheap electric cars with a 100-mile range any good for delivery shifts, or will range anxiety ruin your day?
Last checked 17/10/2026.
The reality of 100-mile range EVs for delivery shifts
You can pick up an older electric vehicle for a few thousand pounds now. Models like early Nissan Leafs, Volkswagen e-Ups and BMW i3s are cheap to buy on the second-hand market. On paper, they offer around 100 miles of range when fully charged. For a food courier doing short hops in a town, that sounds plenty.
The catch is that battery degradation over the years means an older car might only deliver 70 or 80 miles on a real-world shift. Cold winter weather knocks that down even further. If you take on a long multi-drop block or get sent across town during peak traffic, a small battery can put you under pressure.
How charging fits into a courier day
Driving for apps means every minute your car sits still without a parcel or a meal inside is money lost. Relying on public rapid chargers with a cheap EV creates two main problems. First, older cars often lack thermal management, meaning rapid charging speed slows right down after the first top-up of the day. Second, public charger prices can wipe out the fuel savings you bought the car for.
A cheap EV only makes financial sense if you can charge it at home overnight on a cheap domestic tariff. If you live in a flat with no driveway, running an older electric car while depending entirely on street chargers or rapid hubs is usually more expensive and stressful than driving a reliable petrol hatchback.
Comparing the common budget options
| Model | Real world range | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Early Nissan Leaf (24kWh) | 50 to 70 miles | Short food delivery shifts with home charging |
| VW e-Up or Skoda Citigo e | 100 to 120 miles | Urban multi-drop and food delivery |
| BMW i3 (60Ah) | 60 to 80 miles | City couriers with access to top-up parking |
Sources
Common questions
- Can I do a full-time Amazon Flex block in a 100-mile range EV?
- It is risky. Amazon routes often send you down rural lanes and cover well over 80 miles per block, which leaves little margin for error in an older EV.
- Is home charging mandatory for a cheap EV to be profitable?
- Yes, for the most part. Public rapid chargers cost nearly as much per mile as petrol once you factor in VAT and tariffs, removing the main financial benefit of going electric.
About the author
Issac Davies, Founder of JoltMile
Issac Davies drives for gig apps in the UK and built JoltMile to show drivers what a shift actually pays once fuel, insurance and tax come off. Every guide here is checked against HMRC and gov.uk guidance, and is information rather than tax advice.
Track this automatically
The JoltMile app works this out from your own shifts, and keeps the figures ready for Self Assessment. Free for 12 shifts a month.
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