Electric Vehicle (EV) scepticism is slowly giving way to curiosity and in many cases, enthusiasm.

‍

Two of the most powerful forces shifting the public’s mindset are:

• Driver advocates: Real-life word of mouth from friends, family, and colleagues who have made the switch and haven’t looked back.

• Value: Used EVs are now priced on par with, or even below, their petrol and diesel counterparts — while running costs continue to favour electric.

‍

Still, some doubts linger. As an industry, we must continue addressing concerns with transparency and proactive communication — particularly in the used EV market, where hesitation often centres around one issue: battery life.

‍

Despite a growing body of evidence showing that EV batteries degrade slowly and perform well over time, many potential buyers still crave hard proof. Enter battery health certificates — a logical, confidence-building step forward.

‍

Why battery health matters

According to recent research from AXA, 37% of people cite battery life as the primary reason they haven’t yet committed to an EV. In its report Sparking Change, AXA UK argues that introducing standardised battery health information would provide much-needed reassurance to buyers, foster greater confidence in used EVs, and drive market growth.

‍

Battery health certificates could act as a reliable, recognised metric of an EV's condition — akin to mileage for internal combustion vehicles. For insurers, such certificates would also support more accurate assessments of vehicle value and risk.

‍

A push for standardisation

In April 2024, the UK government published Guidelines for Preparing Battery Degradation Evidence, which offered some direction on expected performance thresholds:

• Battery electric vehicles: 80% of initial capacity after 3 years; 70% after 5 years

• Fuel cell vehicles: 90% of rated voltage output after 5 years

‍

Importantly, the guidance acknowledged the evolving nature of EV technology and signalled a willingness to accept alternative evidence that offers reasonable reassurance.

‍

That was a good starting point. But now, the process needs to move faster.

‍

Time to accelerate progress

AXA’s call for standardised battery health testing guidelines is both timely and necessary. These certificates would remove one of the last remaining barriers to mainstream adoption of used EVs — delivering a clear benefit to buyers, sellers, insurers, and manufacturers alike.

‍

It’s a win-win — and one that could bring us another step closer to a cleaner, more confident electric future.

‍

‍

Sources

Guidelines for preparing battery degradation evidence - GOV.UK

Government urged to tackle electric vehicle battery health concerns

‍