Battery Test for Electric Cars
Get a Transparent Evaluation of a Used EV Battery’s Capacity, Performance and Value.
As electromobility experts with many years of experience, we know about the importance of an electric car battery. It is the primary marker of an electric vehicle ‘s (EV) or plug-in hybrid ‘s value and unfavorable conditions such as an inefficient driving style, extreme temperatures and the number of charging cycles can diminish its capacity. With our Battery Test for Electric Cars, you can look beneath the surface and gain an accurate picture of the State of Health of a used electric car’s battery.
Available in various European countries and covering a large number of electric car models from different manufacturers, our web-based solution provides neutral, objective and independent battery test results that you can rely on when using, buying and selling used electric cars – in just 15 minutes.
Our solution provides an independent result on the health of the battery that you can trust when you use, buy or sell a used electric car.
Pasi Lahikainen, CEO, DEKRA Katsastus Oy
At the DEKRA test facility, factory-new electric car batteries are tested to obtain an initial value of the battery's state of health. The results are entered into a database and used for the patented algorithm for calculating SoH. Each electric car is unique and each car model must undergo a week of rigorous testing in DEKRA's development unit in Germany.
Fast
The analysis of the battery State of Health of an electric car only takes 15 minutes and offers an excellent time/accuracy ratio thanks to our comprehensive database and patented algorithm.
Independent
No reliance on manufacturer data or information from the seller – our experienced experts act independently and conduct our unique, verifiable and patented test based on real-time data collected during the test.
Transparent
The simple, transparent test process of connect – accelerate – report determines the remaining battery capacity with immediate test results provided via e-mail.
With DEKRA's battery test, the state of health can not only be accurately measured, but also give a clear and comparable result on the actual battery capacity and thus an indication of where the battery is in the degradation process. This allows you to compare the test results between different electric cars, which provides a unique opportunity for buyers of a used electric car to reliably compare different electric cars with each other.
DEKRA's battery test will be just as important in the assessment of a used electric car as today's product declaration, VDN. A knowledge that is invaluable when buying a used electric car.
Frequently asked question of DEKRA Battery Test
Here you can find the most frequently asked questions and answers concerning our Battery Test for Electric Vehicles.
As the battery ages, its capacity gradually decreases, affecting the vehicle’s range. Furthermore, aging of the traction battery of an electric car means deterioration of the battery’s characteristics. In addition, high and low temperatures, overcharging (high voltage), deep discharging (low voltage), and high charging currents affect the EV battery’s State of Health and, consequently, its capacity.
The battery is the most expensive component in an electric car, which makes its State of Health – defined as its remaining capacity – a crucial factor in determining the car’s value.
It decreases rapidly beginning at 70–80% of the battery’s initial capacity. Knowing what is underneath the surface is great news for car dealerships and leasing companies as well as private individuals, because it provides the basis for more transparent sales negotiations. It also gives a clear and precise statement regarding the actual battery capacity and thus an indication of usability.
This solution offers fast and accurate results, delivered in minutes rather than hours, which is typical for other battery tests. Those lengthy procedures require the battery to be discharged or charged, while the DEKRA battery test does not.
In fact, our test can be completed in approximately 15 minutes, and its accuracy has been validated by RWTH Aachen university as well as by various car manufacturers.
The car must be equipped with an On-Board Diagnostics Interface (OBDI) in order to access the web-based application via our Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI). In addition, the battery must meet the following preconditions:
- State of Charge (SoC) around 40–80%
- Battery temperature between +10°C and +30°C
- Individual cell temperature differences within the battery of <2°C
If these conditions are not met, an error message will appear. Finally, you will need a distance of 100 meters to be able to accelerate the electric car for the dynamic test.
The procedure is based on measuring various battery data such as currents and voltages under load, i.e., during a brief acceleration, via the VCI. The real know-how, however, is in classifying the values measured through a highly complex, very elaborate database and a patented algorithm. For each individual vehicle model, we determine the basic data in advance using measurements run under a wide range of conditions. Afterwards, the data undergoes appropriate structuring and further complex calculations, in some cases aided by artificial intelligence. We refer to this process as "parameterization". The values measured during the battery test are then evaluated based on these type-specific parameters.
The easy-to-read report contains the value for the State of Health, OEM data such as nominal capacity, cell voltage and cell current, as well as more general information about the vehicle, such as model, vehicle ID number and mileage. The result is available immediately after the test is completed and can be sent to the user via e-mail.
So far, we have parameterized a large number of models. Among them are models of various German and European manufacturers, but also Asian makes. We are constantly adding new models to the database. Since the parameterization process is very complex, though, we are initially concentrating on the vehicle models that are most frequently used in a specific market or by specific customers.
List of testable car models is published here: https://dekra-katsastus.fi/akkutesti_automallit/