- Vehicle remarketer, BCA, is introducing an EV battery health grading service for its UK market, as the number of used EVs it is selling at auction to both dealers and private individuals continues to grow.
- Partnering with battery diagnostics firm AVILOO, all EVs auctioned through BCA will have their battery health inspected, giving it a condition grade ranging from A to E.
- BCA buyers will also get access to the full report document past the point of sale, allowing this to be passed on to customers – which could go someway to fight FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) around battery wear on second hand EVs.
BCA brings health visibility to used EVs
It’s already pretty well known that the average used EV still has minimal battery wear, as was evidenced in Tesla’s battery report from last year. However, that hasn’t stopped it from being one of several perceived barriers to ownership, for those in the market for both new and used cars.
Some EV specialist car dealers in the UK, such as Drive Green, already offer battery health reports, but this move by BCA, who is used by car traders across the country, could see a much more widespread shift of dealers offering full visibility on battery health. It may also encourage dealers who have been so far wary of selling used EVs to join the segment. Additionally, the current Labour government has already committed to a mandatory battery health certificate for used EVs at some point in the future, which all dealers will need to provide on used EVs.
Second hand EVs are increasingly becoming an attractive offer for those on the used car market, thanks to prices that continue to drop. With perceived battery wear being a point putting some consumers off switching to an EV, particularly a used example, this grading system could significantly help consumer confidence in purchase. In addition, we’ve seen more and more used car warranty firms introduce EV specific policies, which will be another key tool in used EV dealer’s arsenals.
BCA’s Chief Operating Officer, Stuart Pearson, commented:
“EV volumes in our online auctions are growing significantly year on year and we continue to refine the remarketing process in support of this sector. Thanks to our continued investment in infrastructure and supporting services, our customers remain best placed when it comes to selling or buying used electric vehicles.
The new BCA battery health grading helps our buyer customers to bid on electric vehicles with complete confidence and make more informed decisions when buying. The service offers absolute transparency with unbiased testing and grading, providing a reusable report that will further help the retail process. For our sellers, the report will provide the opportunity to resolve any issues in advance of the sale event, along with optimising residual values by removing any uncertainty discounting.
The most successful EV trade buyers at BCA understand the marketplace well and use their product knowledge to dispel the myths surrounding EVs, providing their customers with increased confidence. This new initiative will provide valuable additional support to our customers as the used EV market continues to grow and help everyone with the onward sales process when these vehicles are retailed.”
