A new white paper exploring the critical subject of used electric vehicle battery health is now out from the Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA).

Battery degradation is the top barrier to buying a used battery electric vehicle

Written by battery electrochemist Euan McTurk, creator and presenter of the Plug Life Television YouTube channel about EVs, it covers everything the remarketing sector needs to know about used EV batteries.

Topics include how quickly EV batteries are likely to degrade, how their state of health can be measured before sale, the effect on RVs, work to make monitoring and reporting battery health easier, and why a used EV battery health checking standard is important for vehicle remarketers and buyers.

Battery degradation is the top barrier to buying a used battery electric vehicle (BEV) and previous research by the VRA has found that a standardised statement on the condition of each battery and its likely future degradation would help used buyer confidence.

The Government is exploring plans to make battery state of health (SOH) monitors compulsory on all new electric vehicles. It’s also convened a working group to identify potential barriers and solutions to the take-up of used EVs. Some of the findings have been revealed in the recently published report on Used EV Market: The Key to Unlocking Net Zero report, which was led by the Green Finance Institute (GFI).

Philip Nothard, VRA chair, said: “We know that worries over battery health and the rate at which batteries decline are key barriers to many consumers when it comes to considering buying a used EV. This white paper is designed to give people working in all areas of remarketing the information that they need to help allay those fears, which are largely unfounded.”

Further details about the ‘Electric Vehicle Battery Health: What the Remarketing Sector Needs to Know’ white paper are here.

Nothard added: “This is the second in a series of white papers on EV remarketing that the VRA has produced and the first, on charging, has been very well received. We’re planning on creating more, covering a range of areas concerning electrification for the remarketing sector. There remains a huge appetite for information in this area from our members and others in the sector.”