Buying used electric cars is not the most plausible option among customers. Studies support this general opinion for one reason: the capacity of the battery, despite official guarantees. A German company is developing a system capable of determining capacity after a period of use and prior to a sale.
Clients interested in electric cars they prefer to make the full investment of a new model than to bet on a used one. They are very hesitant to buy a zero-emission second-hand car, considering the capacity of the battery after a few years of use as the primary factor. Although some manufacturers guarantee this up to a million kilometers, the vast majority do not even approach 200,000 kilometers.
In fact, the period varies between eight years and 160,000 kilometers, whichever comes first, emitting a certificate that guarantees 70 percent of the total capacity. But potential customers of a used electric car need to know the exact capacity to deal with the investment. This is referred to as “SOH», and it is an essential question because, in addition, there is a question that will not be fully clarified:corresponds to gross or net capacity?
Knowing the exact capacity of the battery is crucial for second-hand electrics
If the battery fails because some of its cells are in poor condition, not only does the autonomy decrease, but it also takes longer to charge. Manufacturers are only responsible for replace the battery if they certify that it does not reach the minimum percentagewhich they know from the battery control unit, which has a memory in which data is stored of the loads, the use and the aforementioned «SOH», so one of the traps is to «tweak» this memory so that it offers the minimum percentage that is guaranteed.
Given the reluctance, the German company Twaice is developing a system to carry out certifications of the capacity of the traction batteries of electric cars, some tests that you will be able to start carrying out as of next autumn 2022. The service «Battery Quick Check» is ready for deployment in Germany, in garages, dealerships and fleet operators, allowing customers to see first-hand the condition of batteries before selling them via OBD diagnostic socket of the vehicles.
A plus of security for buyers because, first of all, it is the essential factor to determine the price of used electric, but it is also a fundamental tool to be able to act against a manufacturer if the client is in special circumstances. The only way to have an independent analysis to be able to force brands to act accordingly. Those responsible for Twaice have already announced that this system will be offered in other European markets in 2023estimating a demand for studies in Germany that will affect some 150,000 electricians.
Source:
Twaice