Almost half (45%) of trade buyers say they have avoided bidding on an EV due to a lack of information regarding its battery health.

The research, carried out among buyers, bidders and viewers of electric vehicle stock on Dealer Auction’s platform, also showed that battery health certificates demonstrated clear value for online buyers. Half (51%) of those surveyed selected a battery health certificate as the top item that would give them more confidence when bidding on an electric car. This ranked above offerings including service history, EV-specific diagnostics reports and a third-party inspection.

In fact, 45% of buyers would be more likely to bid on an EV with a battery health certificate than on an identical model without one.

Such certificates go beyond simply instilling confidence among prospective buyers; they also play a vital role in retailing EVs to customers. Nine in 10 (90%) of respondents stated that a battery health certificate would be useful for marketing an EV to retail customers, with only one respondent saying it wouldn’t make a difference. Furthermore, 63% believe a battery health certificate would improve the retail value of an EV and 33% said it would “possibly help with faster sales”.

Dealer Auction said the research reveals the importance of clear information on battery health for trade buyers.

Dave Pretty, head of OEM and fleet relationships at Dealer Auction, said: “It is clear that battery health certificates are not just a ‘nice to have’. As confidence is crucial among buyers, especially those shopping online, these certificates are a vital component of an effective electric remarketing strategy.

“For those looking to drive higher bid volumes and reduce price sensitivity, offering more clarity around battery health is a strategically sound initiative.”