Measuring battery degradation in the same way
Replacing the battery in a used plug-in hybrid or EV quickly costs thousands of euros. That’s why, as a consumer, you absolutely want to know the condition of this component. But what should a so-called State of Health test meet?
According to a Volvo spokesperson, ‘approved’ used vehicles of the brand receive a SoH certificate based on their own test, the result of which is based on information that the car itself collects about the condition of the battery. Volvo offers a warranty on the battery pack if the used vehicle is less than eight years old and has driven less than 160,000 kilometers. Nice, but it has the appearance of a butcher inspecting his own meat.
Kia e-Soul first generation out of warranty
Kia says it uses special diagnostic equipment to test the used batteries. Under certain conditions, there is a warranty on the battery pack if the electric used vehicle is no older than ten years and has driven less than 150,000 kilometers. However, the battery pack of the first-generation e-Soul is not eligible for this extended warranty period, because according to Kia, the condition of these outdated batteries deteriorates faster than modern variants. Not great, but at least it’s honest…
Mercedes-Benz also offers independent testing
Mercedes-Benz also tests the batteries of ‘approved’ used vehicles in its own way. It does this with the so-called StarDiagnose. To be eligible for warranty, plug-in hybrids – depending on the type – must be no older than six years and have driven no more than 100,000 kilometers. The battery packs of fully electric cars have, depending on the type, eight years and 160,000 kilometers or ten years and 250,000 kilometers warranty. At Mercedes-Benz, as a consumer, you can also opt for an independent test, such as a battery diagnosis from Aviloo. That is without a doubt fair and transparent from Das Haus.
No general definition of State of Health
Everyone seems to use a different way of testing, and according to Marcel van Renselaar of Aviloo, you can hardly compare results. “The problem is that there is no general definition of State of Health. As a result, we see deviations of ten, twelve or fourteen percent between different tests.” Van Renselaar expects that European legislation will eventually be introduced, which will eventually equalize all tests. But there is still a long way to go and that is not conducive to confidence among potential buyers of electric used vehicles.
And our Tesla Model 3 from 2019?
Some time ago, our used vehicle endurance tester, a Tesla Model 3 from 2019, underwent an extensive battery degradation test from Aviloo. After more than five years and 113,000 kilometers, the capacity of the battery turned out to have dropped from 74.3 kWh to 64.9 kWh. With a result of 87 percent, the car scored as expected. According to a Tesla spokesperson, the brand’s approved used vehicles are also subjected to a test, in which the overall condition of the battery pack is examined. These second-hand Teslas have a limited warranty of up to twelve months or 20,000 kilometers. If that still applies, as a consumer you can possibly claim the original factory warranty.
A general Bovag certificate, how is it going?
Bovag has been working for a while on a single certificate that indicates the state of the battery of second-hand EVs in the showroom of a Bovag garage. According to a spokesperson, there is nothing to report at the moment, because the certificate is part of a larger project. “We are working on the future of the Bovag warranty. It is a product that consumers have attached great value to, but that has changed a bit over the years.” To better meet the wishes of the customer, Bovag says it wants to distinguish itself more on transparency. “Customers nowadays prefer certainty in advance, rather than warranty afterwards.” The recognized tests for battery packs are also part of this new course: “The hope and goal is to also have a battery check in the future, to which a Bovag check mark is then attached.”