Andy Burnham, the Labour Party leader and newly appointed Prime Minister, has been urged by leading motoring experts to introduce mandatory battery health certificates for all used electric vehicles (EVs) sold by dealers. The call comes as part of a broader push to enhance consumer confidence in the growing market for second-hand EVs.
Three prominent electric vehicle organisations have advocated for legislation requiring dealers to provide a standardised certificate verifying the current state of health of an EV’s battery. This measure aims to address concerns among buyers about the condition and longevity of EV batteries - a crucial factor in the overall value and reliability of such vehicles.
Ginny Buckley, founder of Electrifying.com, highlighted the significance of this information for consumers: “We�27re 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.”
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BatteryIQ founder Nick Bailey emphasised that technology to perform consistent and accurate battery health checks is already available. “Battery health is probably the single biggest unanswered question for used EV buyers, yet it�27s 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.”
He added, “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.”
Supporting these views, research conducted by Startline Motor Finance reveals that battery health plays a crucial role in consumer buying decisions. The study found that 77% of drivers expressed worry about potential battery failure, while 57% would only consider purchasing a used EV if it came with a battery health certificate.
Paul Burgess, CEO of Startline Motor Finance, noted, “With more than two million EVs now on UK roads, it�27s 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. Professional battery health checks, which are being offered by a range of companies, could play an important role in creating a sense of security.”
As the UK continues its transition to electric vehicles, the implementation of mandatory battery health certificates could mark a significant step towards ensuring transparency and building trust within the expanding used EV market.