Motoring experts have called on Andy Burnham to introduce a standard battery health certificate for all used electric vehicles (EVs) to boost confidence and accelerate the second-hand market.
Used EV Sales Rise but Confidence Remains Low
Used EV sales are on the up, with data from the SMMT showing that battery electric car transactions rose by 67% in Q2, reaching a record 5.5% market share. However, consumers remain wary of second-hand EVs, with data from Electrifying.com and the AA of 13,000 individuals finding just 3% felt confident buying a used electric car.
Battery Certificates Could Boost Demand
Battery health tests could be the answer, with the same data showing that 38% of individuals would be more confident if they saw an independent battery certificate before finalising a deal.
Ginny Buckley, founder of Electrifying.com, said: “We’re asking consumers to make one of the biggest purchases of their lives without one of the most important pieces of information. A standardised battery health certificate would give buyers the transparency and confidence they deserve. Given how important the used market is to the UK’s transition to electric cars, this feels like a genuine no-brainer.”
Impact on Buyers and Sellers
Battery health certificates could be designed to show buyers the current state of a battery, usable capacity and real-world range. The certificates would not only be a boost for buyers, with sellers holding the keys to good quality vehicles likely to be able to charge more.
However, those advertising electric cars with poor battery health would be negatively impacted, with potential customers being made aware of a likely red flag.
Technology Already Exists
Nick Bailey, founder of BatteryIQ, stressed the technology already exists to make standardised checks a reality. He said: “Battery health is probably the single biggest unanswered question for used EV buyers, yet it’s also one of the easiest things to measure accurately. We already have the technology. We already know how to assess battery condition consistently. The missing piece is making that information available as standard. A battery State of Health certificate should become as routine as an MOT certificate. It would create a trusted benchmark for buyers, support stronger residual values and give consumers the confidence they deserve when choosing a used electric car.”
