If the mileage and the year of production are generally enough to give an overview of the condition of a thermal vehicle, the thing is not true with an electric car. For second-hand wattage models, battery health is by far the most important element. However, checking this data is not obligatory… However, imposing this simple measure would be enough to boost the second-hand market.
Several studies can attest to this: the discount of an electric vehicle is much greater than that of its thermal equivalent. How to explain this, when generally, new wattage models are more expensive than their gasoline or diesel counterpart? The answer is simple: the vagueness that persists around the battery status.
The second-hand electric market is parasitized by this lack of transparencymaintained in particular by manufacturers (the estimates provided on a new car are often very optimistic) and by certain resale platforms which do not display essential information: the State of Health (SOH).
The SOH, essential information… yet absent
The state of health of the battery is essential data for the buyer, since it measures the difference between the real capacity at time T of the battery compared to its capacity when it left the factory. In other words, the SOH allows you to have a precise idea of the real range of an electric car at the time of purchase/sale.
Please note that manufacturers also use this information as part of the battery warranty. Generally, if we lose 30% of capacity during the covered period, the manufacturer undertakes to replace the battery (and again, this depends on the policy of each manufacturer). And when we know that the battery is one of the most expensive elements of an electric car, manufacturers have every interest in preserving and cultivating this opacity around its state.
As our colleagues at Numerama report, some brands do not hesitate to hide losses of autonomy by reprogramming battery management systems (BMS). With other manufacturers, we simply prefer to pay for the diagnosisjust to dissuade customers.
A legal void that harms the second-hand market
This legal void seriously harms the second-hand electric market. A worrying fact, especially as the sector is growing day by day. As a BonCoin study revealed in July 2023, ads for second-hand electric models have tripled on the platform in just one year. Consumer interest in second-hand electric vehicles is therefore real, but it is unfortunately hampered by these justified concerns around the battery. And for sellers, this lack of information unnecessarily lowers the rating of their vehicle.
To remedy this situation, there is a simple measure: make it compulsory to display the SOH when selling a used vehicle. To do this, it would be enough to add this data to the technical inspection For example. Enough to guarantee buyers and sellers the actual condition of their vehicle’s battery. In Germany, the authorities want to move in this direction.
Also read : The technical inspection of two wheels arrives in 2024, here is who is concerned
The good example of Germany
In fact, it is planned to integrate into the German technical inspection (TÜV) an electric car battery testing protocol. The procedure consists of plugging a measuring box into the ODB port and letting the vehicle recharge on a wall terminal for 1.5 to 2 hours. Enough to considerably extend the duration of the technical inspection… But at least, the owner will be in possession of his certificate at the end of the process.
As TÜV explains, this protocol is the result of 5 years of work and it has the advantage of being standardized. Thanks to it, technical control centers can know the current, voltage, internal resistance of the battery, or even the unit temperature of the cells, modules and the entire pack. Despite a high price of €149, the idea would be to propose this protocol to other countries, including France. Whatever it is, it is a turnkey solution which would finally allow the used electric market to regain its stability.
Note that in France, there is certain third-party services to obtain your battery certificate. Moba, the former Belle Batterie, offers in particular a kit at €49.99 (a little more on certain models) to carry out the diagnosis of your vehicle yourself at home. Some automotive specialists have also gotten into it, like Norauto with a test billed at around forty euros. Some manufacturers also offer solutions, such as Renault via the My Renault application (the service is chargeable and the certificate obtained is valid for only 3 months). At Peugeot, the certificate of capacity is free during the annual reviewprovided you have signed a maintenance contract.
