Buying a used car is always a bit of a lottery, where you hope to land a good deal that hits both the price and the car’s condition. And that’s true even for electric vehicles. So, some major players in the used-vehicle market have just joined forces to bring more transparency to buyers.
A clearly displayed battery health status
The State of Health of a battery in an electric car is a crucial indicator of its degradation and the heart of the vehicle’s longevity. This SOH metric is essential, yet it is very rarely accessible to buyers of used EVs. In practice, sellers don’t publish it, and measuring it during a pre-purchase viewing is often impractical.
To determine the SOH of an EV, you typically go through the manufacturer’s service network, use a manufacturer’s app or a third‑party tool, or, as with Tesla, trigger a measurement directly from the car’s dashboard. However, this measurement can be time-consuming and may require the vehicle to be at a minimum charge and plugged in. So it’s basically impossible to test with the seller present.
That means it’s up to the seller to decide whether to disclose the battery’s health. If the seller refuses to share it, that’s probably a sign the battery isn’t in great shape. And given that replacing a battery can cost thousands of dollars, it’s wise to be sure it’s in good condition before buying.
Multiple players will display the SOH of used EVs
Monique Bechut, France’s Minister for the Ecological Transition, announced today that an agreement has been signed by Stellantis, Renault, Aramis Auto, the CSIAM, Mobilians and the PFA (Plateforme Automobile) to work toward implementing a SOH display on used EVs.
Concretely, used electric vehicles sold by Renault, Stellantis and Aramis Auto will clearly show the battery’s health status on the listing. It’s a way to reassure buyers. It remains unclear whether other players will adopt this transparency, or whether it will become a legal obligation for professionals. The ministry’s release suggests a voluntary approach for dealers. And in any case, it will be nearly impossible to enforce this for private sellers, who represent a substantial share of the used-car market.
