Ministers are facing calls to establish an official battery health certificate for second-hand electric vehicles (EVs) following a survey that revealed widespread scepticism about their reliability. Just 2% of participants in a poll of 11,833 AA members whose primary vehicle is not an EV believed the batteries generally outlast petrol and diesel engines.
This comes despite studies showing that contemporary EV batteries deliver similar durability to traditional combustion engines. Ginny Buckley, chief executive of EV guidance website Electrifying.com – which collaborated with the AA on the survey conducted last month – argued the « significant gap between perception and reality » regarding EV batteries highlights the necessity for standardised testing and documentation.
She told the Press Association: « When you sell a house, buyers expect to see an energy performance certificate (EPC), it’s a simple way of understanding its energy efficiency. There’s no reason why electric cars shouldn’t work the same way.
« A clear, standardised measure of battery health, independently checked and updated at MOT stage once a car is over three years old, would take much of the fear out of buying a used EV – and unlock the used market faster than short-term incentives. »
Ms Buckley highlighted that the « lack of understanding » surrounding EV batteries represents a major reason why merely 3% of those surveyed expressed confidence in purchasing a second-hand EV. She criticised the Government for « overlooking » the pre-owned EV marketplace, claiming its strategy for promoting electric vehicle adoption « continues to focus almost exclusively on new cars ».
The subsequent stage in accelerating EV uptake will depend on « building trust and confidence in the used cars that most drivers buy », she argued. The Government launched grants worth up to £3,750 for new EV purchases in July last year.
Some 44% of survey participants indicated that incentives for second-hand EV purchases – similar to the interest-free loans provided by the Scottish Government – would increase their likelihood of making such a purchase. AA president Edmund King stated that conditions supporting the transition to EVs « remain challenging ».
He said: « A big uptick in the sales of used EVs would be a game changer. Drivers need convincing on battery longevity before buying used EVs. »
Mr King pointed out that under the Government’s zero-emissions vehicle mandate, EV manufacturers must offer a battery replacement warranty should capacity drop below 70% within the initial eight years or before 100,000 miles have been covered, whichever occurs first.
Mark Smith, head of fleet and used cars at car manufacturer Tesla UK and Ireland, which sold the two most popular new EVs last year, said: « We understand that there may be some unwarranted scepticism across the industry. All our vehicles have a built-in tool for checking the health of the battery. We hope other manufacturers adopt this thinking, to benefit the transition to sustainable energy. »
The Department for Transport was contacted for comment by the Press Association.
