Three UK electric vehicle organizations — Electrifying.com, New AutoMotive and BatteryIQ — are calling on the British government to mandate battery State of Health (SoH) certificates for every dealer-sold used electric vehicle, citing research in which just 3% of drivers said they felt very confident buying one. The three argue that used EV buyers deserve the same transparency about a battery that they already get from an MOT certificate — the UK’s annual vehicle inspection — a service history or a mileage record when buying a used gasoline or diesel car. Their case rests on an information gap rather than on battery failure: the organizations say degradation has become one of the biggest concerns among prospective buyers while the measured evidence increasingly points the other way.
Highlights
- Used EV salary sacrifice agreements rose 474% year over year, used personal contract hire 484% and used business contract hire 50%, according to BVRLA figures
- Just 3% of surveyed drivers said they felt very confident buying a used EV; 38% said an independently verified battery health certificate would increase their confidence
- Testing of more than 8,000 battery electric vehicles returned an average State of Health of approximately 95.15%
- Many vehicles beyond 100,000 miles retained more than 90% of original battery capacity
Used EV Finance Is Growing Faster Than Buyer Confidence
Figures from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), published in its Leasing Outlook: July 2026, show the used EV market gathering momentum across every finance channel the association tracks:
- Used EV salary sacrifice: up 474% year over year
- Used personal contract hire: up 484%
- Used business contract hire: up 50%
The BVRLA characterizes used EV salary sacrifice as a promising channel and argues that government support for used EV demand remains an industry priority, on the reasoning that stronger used demand lifts residual values, reduces lease costs and feeds back into new EV sales. The association also concludes that stabilizing used EV residual values depends in part on battery health transparency and clear reassurance about the condition of individual vehicles.
Confidence has not tracked that growth. Research by Electrifying.com and The AA covering more than 13,000 UK drivers found battery condition remains one of the biggest concerns among those who have not yet switched. Around 3% said they felt very confident buying a used electric vehicle, while 38% said an independently verified battery health certificate would increase their confidence.
Do Used EV Batteries Degrade as Fast as Buyers Expect?
The available testing data says no. Analysis by Generational of more than 8,000 battery electric vehicles found an average State of Health of approximately 95.15%, with many vehicles exceeding 100,000 miles while retaining well over 90% of original capacity. Separate independent analysis by EV Clinic of high-mileage electric vehicles found degradation substantially lower than consumers expect, including numerous vehicles past 200,000 miles that retained the majority of their original capacity.
Ginny Buckley, Founder of Electrifying.com, said: “Experts can keep telling car buyers they have nothing to worry about, but our research shows that message simply isn’t landing. It’s not enough to dismiss the concerns about battery life shared by the majority of those drivers who haven’t yet switched to an EV – we need to address them.
“We’re asking consumers to make one of the biggest purchases of their lives without one of the most important pieces of information. A standardised battery health certificate would give buyers the transparency and confidence they deserve. Given how important the used market is to the UK’s transition to electric cars, this feels like a genuine no-brainer.”
What the Organizations Are Asking For
The three bodies are calling on government to work with industry on four measures:
- Mandatory battery State of Health certificates for all dealer-sold used battery electric vehicles
- A nationally recognized methodology allowing consumers to compare vehicles regardless of manufacturer
- Battery health information presented alongside MOT history, service records and mileage whenever a used EV is advertised or sold
- A phased introduction developed jointly with manufacturers, retailers and battery testing specialists
Ben Nelmes, Chief Executive of New AutoMotive, framed the ask as a demand-side measure. “The next stage of Britain’s transition to electric vehicles will be driven by the used market. Every new EV sold today becomes tomorrow’s affordable family car,” he said. “Government policy has done a good job creating supply, but the challenge now is stimulating demand. Battery health certificates are a practical, proportionate reform that would strengthen consumer confidence without requiring expensive subsidy schemes.”
Nick Bailey, founder of BatteryIQ, argued the technical work is already done. “Battery health is probably the single biggest unanswered question for used EV buyers, yet it’s also one of the easiest things to measure accurately,” he said. “We already have the technology. We already know how to assess battery condition consistently. The missing piece is making that information available as standard.
“A battery State of Health certificate should become as routine as an MOT certificate. It would create a trusted benchmark for buyers, support stronger residual values and give consumers the confidence they deserve when choosing a used electric car.”
Where Manufacturer-Level Testing Already Exists
James Strong, Used Car Sales and Delivery Manager at Tesla UK, described the automaker’s own approach: “We see the customer demand for confidence in battery health. That’s why we added Battery Health Checks into all Model 3s and Model Ys, so consumers can check their own vehicles battery health, and retailers can check vehicles they stock, with no added tools required. It’s no secret that Model 3 and Model Y were the fastest selling used car of any fuel type last month based on technologies like this and the ability to give customers confidence in going electric.”
The Regulatory Gap
The organizations note that the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate is built to stimulate supply of new zero emission vehicles through manufacturer sales targets and contains no equivalent mechanism aimed specifically at used EV demand. They also point to the European Union Battery Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542), which introduces the Battery Passport and broader battery transparency requirements across a battery’s lifecycle.
The three say a mandatory certificate would reward owners who have maintained their vehicles properly, create a transparent benchmark across the used market and accelerate the UK’s transition without significant public spending.
