The BVRLA is running an event on electric vehicle battery health to explore ways of promoting greater confidence in the used electric vehicle market.

Organisations across the automotive supply chain are exploring ways of accurately measuring and recording health status for EV batteries

Titled ‘Battery Health: supercharge your knowledge’, the half-day ‘Deep Dive’ event on 16 May will include panel discussions and keynote speeches from battery engineers, health-check providers and the Department for Transport, which will speak on work to produce global standards in this area.

Battery degradation is one of the biggest concerns for potential used battery electric vehicle (BEV) buyers, and organisations across the automotive supply chain are exploring ways of accurately measuring and recording health status.

“As the new electric vehicle market grows and matures, it is only natural that the spotlight shifts to the other end of the automotive value chain,” said Toby Poston, director of corporate affairs at the BVRLA.

“Vehicle resellers and remarketers need help in setting used BEV prices and reassuring potential customers. Fleet operators and vehicle owners want to use the information to prolong the life of their assets and maximise their resale value.

“Recent history has highlighted the perils of flawed vehicle data. The BVRLA is working with Government and colleagues across the fleet sector industry to promote battery health information that is reliable, accessible and useable.”

Last month saw the UK remarketing sector call for a standard battery check for used EVs to accelerate buyer confidence. A survey by the Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA) saw 70% of members say it’s a key issue that needs resolving – and the association explained that an accurate, credible statement on the current condition of each battery and its likely future degradation would help considerably.

The BVRLA Deep Dive will explore current trends in battery technology and degradation before examining the latest developments in battery health monitoring. It’s being in partnership with Auto Trader, which will share its latest data and insights on the used BEV market.

Ian Plummer, commercial director of Auto Trader, added: “As highlighted in the latest edition of our Road to 2030 report, these are difficult times for the UK’s electric ambitions. Although demand for used BEVs is up around 30% on last year, fuelled by greater choice and softening prices, it’s failing to keep pace with the recent surge in supply. It’s impossible to overstate the role the second-hand market will play in driving mass adoption, and building confidence in used BEVs among retailers will be as important as it is among consumers. This initiative will go a long way towards these objectives and will be a big help in getting the road to 2030 back on track.”

The battery health Deep Dive forms part of the BVRLA’s Fleets in Charge programme of transport decarbonisation events and content, supported in 2023 by the AA, Arval and Mina.