The main factor when buying and selling used electric vehicles:

Why independent battery certificates will revolutionize the market

Dr. Marcus Berger

There is still a great deal of scepticism among consumers when it comes to buying a used electric vehicle. A recent study by the renowned DAT (Deutsche Automobil Treuhand) published study, which relates to the German market, shows that only half of consumers who can imagine switching to an electric vehicle in principle would warm to a used car.

The central, value-influencing component of a used electric vehicle is and remains the traction battery.

Unsurprisingly, well over 70% of potential buyers of a used electric vehicle state that a battery certificate is very important for a purchase decision. This is also in line with our experience, which shows that the mileage can only provide a limited indication of the battery condition.

The renowned British Green Finance Institute comes to a similar conclusion, also proposing the introduction of battery certificates as the number one measure to increase consumer confidence in used electric vehicles.

The renowned British Green Finance Institute, which also proposes the introduction of battery certificates as the number one measure to increase consumer confidence in used electric vehicles.

The lasting value of electric vehicles is essentially influenced by the condition of the battery.

While a three-year-old combustion engine with a mileage of 15-20 thousand kilometers per year on average still retains almost 70% of its original value, electric vehicles only manage around 60%.

This 10% difference is of course significant. If you take a Volkswagen ID 4, for example, which currently costs around EUR 50,000 new (depending on the equipment, etc.), this electric vehicle loses an average of EUR 5,000 "too much" in value - compared to equally expensive and equally old combustion engines.

An independent battery certificate - as the majority of used car buyers would like to see - would certainly lead to a gradual equalization of the value of electric vehicles and combustion engines.

We at AVILOO therefore recommend treating the battery with care, only charging it quickly if absolutely necessary and parking it with charge levels between 40% and 60%. In this way, you can maximize the resale value of your electric vehicle. And, of course, it is important to objectively and independently verify the state of health when selling the vehicle.