Nine out of 10 car dealers (90%) believe the used electric vehicle (EV) sector needs an industry-wide scheme for battery health tests.
The news comes from Startline’s used car tracker, which stated that 78% believe battery health is an essential consideration for most electric car buyers.
But there was some difference of opinion over how it should be delivered with 38% stating battery health check providers should meet an industry standard, and 36% saying it should be a government-backed scheme.
Only a few dealers disagreed with the need for a scheme though, with just 5% believing battery health is not the most important factor for EV buyers, and 3% thinking battery health checks are an unnecessary expense for dealers.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said:
“Dealers are obviously at the sharp end of selling used cars and essentially, this data is telling us the overwhelming majority believe the sector needs some form of formal battery health check scheme, with more than three out of four thinking battery health is a key consideration for buyers.
“In a used electric car market where residual values remain low and there is a general degree of concern about the volume of vehicles starting to circulate, this is a move that could help to persuade potential buyers who are concerned about the possibility of battery failure or degradation. It could give them the confidence to buy.
“There are plans for a government scheme but progress appears to be slow and there is, of course, nothing to stop any of the major industry bodies from creating their own standard with the many credible battery health check providers already working in the market.”
“It’s clear that any views against a formal battery health check scheme form only a tiny minority of dealers and interestingly, when we asked used car buyers in this month’s Startline Used Car Tracker whether they would back such an initiative, 88% were in favour. It is an idea with something quite close to universal approval.”
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