TÜV Rheinland: Certified Battery Test for Battery Electric Vehicles Creates Trust on the Used Car Market

Certified battery test for battery electric vehicles (BEV) creates confidence in the used car market

• Battery Quick Check accurately records the condition of the traction battery
• Process for determining the State of Health is certified by TÜV Rheinland
• Precise residual value calculation possible
• Process can be efficiently integrated into lease take-back and workshop processes    

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The Battery Quick Check GmbH, a joint venture between TÜV Rheinland and battery analytics specialist TWAICE, now makes it possible to precisely evaluate traction batteries of used electric vehicles. Certified by TÜV Rheinland, Battery Quick Check creates a detailed report on the actual condition of the traction battery.

The new battery test provides an important basis for reliably determining the performance and value of a used BEV. "The 'State of Health' displayed by the vehicles' battery management systems does not provide a reliable indication of the actual condition of the vehicle's battery," says Dr. Matthias Schubert, Executive Vice President Mobility responsible for TÜV Rheinland's global mobility business. "Practical experience shows that the values displayed and the values actually measured often differ greatly. Only a precisely assessed battery condition also enables a precisely assessed residual value."

Battery report makes value and performance of used BEVs transparent  

The traction battery is the most valuable component of an electric vehicle. In some cases, the battery accounts for more than 50 percent of the value of new vehicles. But because it was previously impossible to accurately diagnose the condition of the battery, it was not possible to determine the residual value of used BEVs.

The data-based Battery Quick Check now reliably determines the actual battery condition. It can be performed stationary, for example in a workshop. The battery certificate bears a QR code that can be used to view results online, thus ensuring traceability.  

Jump-starting a functioning used car market  

Battery electric vehicles now account for almost one-fifth of all new passenger car registrations in Germany, and the stock now totals more than 1.3 million electric vehicles. "Nationwide electromobility for individual transport will only become realistic if a functioning used car market for BEVs also develops," explains Katharina Alamo Alonso, Managing Director of Battery Quick Check GmbH.

"With Battery Quick Check, a high-quality procedure is now entering the market that gives a realistic picture of the remaining capacity of the traction battery, works very efficiently and provides reliable data. Vehicle owners, car dealerships and workshops as well as marketers of fleet vehicles benefit from true transparency. The used car market is the winner, because confidence in used electric vehicles increases."

Accurate results with little time required

For the battery test, the specialists in the workshops use the on-board diagnostic system (OBD) with the OBD-2 interface of a vehicle. The Battery Quick Check relies on a software-controlled load on the vehicle battery via diagnostic device and wallbox during the charging process. It can be easily integrated into workshop processes. Only about five minutes are needed for a specialist to work on the vehicle; the rest is automated within around 90 minutes.

A unique feature of the Battery Quick Check is that the respective battery cells were measured in the laboratory in their new condition and reference values were generated. As a result, the Battery Quick Check delivers exact results from the very first measurement, which can be reproduced at any time.

The target customers for the new service are car dealerships, workshop chains, leasing companies and corporate fleet management. Private customers can use the service via their car dealership or workshop.  

The Battery Quick Check can be carried out by TÜV Rheinland experts from August 31, 2023. The Battery Quick Check will then also be available in garages from September 15 via Hella Gutmann, the first partner for diagnostic hardware. Other hardware partners will follow.

By the end of this year, the battery test will be offered for around 40 vehicle models, corresponding to a market coverage of around 50 percent, which will be further expanded in stages. The recommended retail price for the Battery Quick Check is 149 euros.