Calls for mandatory battery health checks as half of drivers say they won’t buy without one

The UK Government should introduce a standardised and mandatory battery heath check for used EVs, according to a panel of industry experts.

Three leading EV bodies have urged ministers to consider legislation that would require all dealer-sold used EVs to come with a certificate confirming their current battery state of health.

They argue that such a test would remove one of the remaining barriers to mainstream EV adoption – that of confidence in a car’s longevity.

Even as demand for used EVs soars, Electrifying, New AutoMotive and BatteryIQ, say that many buyers want further reassurance before making the leap to electric.

Their call comes as separate research reveals that more than half of prospective EV drivers wouldn’t buy a car without a battery health certificate.

‘Information, not degradation is the problem’

The three organisations say consumers deserve the same level of transparency about an electric vehicle’s battery as they already expect through an MOT certificate, service history or mileage record when buying a used petrol or diesel car.

They argue that while evidence shows battery degradation is rarely a big issue, it remains one of the biggest concerns among prospective used EV buyers, which a mandatory health report would help address.

Ginny Buckley, founder of consumer site Electrifying.com, said: “Experts can keep telling car buyers they have nothing to worry about, but our research shows that message simply isn’t landing.

“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.”

Nick Bailey, founder of BatteryIQ, added: “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.”

Drivers want reassurance

A survey of 13,000 drivers by the AA and Electrifying found 38% said an independently verified battery health certificate would increase their confidence in buying an EV.

Separate research by Startline Motor Finance suggests a health check could have an even bigger impact on confidence. It found 77% of drivers were worried about potential battery failure and 57% would only ever consider a used EV which had a battery health certificate.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “With more than two million EVs now on UK roads, it’s becoming clear that early fears over battery failure have been hugely overblown. In fact, it is proving to be a fairly rare occurrence.

“Despite this, it is a possibility still clearly playing on the minds of potential electric car buyers and professional battery health checks, which are being offered by a range of companies, could play an important role in creating a sense of security.”

A growing number of manufacturers and car retailers are buying into the concept of battery health checks. Polestar now offers a state of health certificate with all approved Polestar 2 cars and Motorpoint, BCA and Cambria have begun offering health certificates with their used EVs. Arnold Clark has also recently launched a battery health check as part of its routine servicing plan.