Arval Beyond
GOOD NEWS FOR USED ELECTRIC VEHICLES: THE BATTERIES REMAIN EFFICIENT AFTER SEVERAL YEARS
Products & Solutions
6 Feb 2025
- The results of an analysis conducted by Arval’s Consulting and Remarketing teams on the health status of its electric vehicle batteries demonstrate a longevity well beyond OEMs warranties.
- Arval is the first leasing company to offer systematically a battery health certificate for electric vehicles when reselling them on the used car market.
- By issuing these health certificates and leveraging the insights from this analysis, Arval aims to reassure buyers of used electric vehicles about battery performance after several years of use, thus removing one of the barriers to their adoption.
A major player in long-term leasing and a specialist in mobility solutions, Arval unveils the results of its analysis on the health status of its electric vehicle batteries.
This analysis was conducted through the study of 8,300 battery health certificates for used electric vehicles from 30 different brands sold by Arval from March 2023 to November 2024 in 8 countries. As concerns about the range of electric vehicles and the health status of their batteries are among the main apprehensions of buyers, reassurance and transparency are key. The findings of this analysis show that electric vehicle batteries maintain their performance over time.
Electric Vehicle Batteries: Longevity Well Beyond Standard Warranties
Representing between 20% and 30% of the cost of an electric vehicle (EV) at purchase, the battery is an essential component, but also a potential source of concern for used vehicle buyers. Indeed, a common misconception still hinders the adoption of EVs: that their battery degrades too quickly, thus reducing the vehicle's range in kilometers. Arval's analysis shows that this degradation, although inevitable, is generally very limited and much slower than assumed:
- Of the 8,300 electric vehicles tested, the average battery health was 93% - 100% being the theoretical health status of the battery when the vehicle is first put on the road.
- The vast majority (98%) of the measured health statuses are above 80%.
- After traveling 70,000 kms, the average battery state of health of an electric vehicle is 93%.
- Beyond 200,000 kms, the health status remains close to 90% in average.
By advocating transparency in battery health data, Arval encourages its sector to continue in this direction and generalize the use of battery health certificates. This initiative illustrates Arval's desire to promote an intelligent and informed adoption of used EVs, while strengthening buyer confidence.
Arval, Pioneer in Issuing Electric Vehicle Battery Health Certificates
As the first leasing company to offer a battery health certificate for electric vehicles when reselling them, Arval aims to both reassure its customers about battery performance after several years of use and encourage the purchase of used electric vehicles by removing one of the barriers to their adoption.
Through their dedicated interface, Arval's used vehicle buyers have access to a QR code for each vehicle, allowing them to generate the battery health certificate. This certificate indicates the battery capacity percentage compared to its new state, as well as the calculation of the range in kilometers depending on the type of journey (urban, highway, mixed) or weather conditions. The battery health certificates for Arval's used electric vehicles are generated by Moba and Aviloo, two companies specializing in battery evaluation that are among the only three companies approved by CARA1 (Car Remarketing Association Europe), the car remarketing association in Europe. To date, there is no official standard calculation method for evaluating battery levels at the European level, so Arval relies on CARA's expertise, which offers an independent evaluation and certification of battery health. This certificate reassures buyers about the residual values of electric vehicles, thus facilitating their resale on the used market.
"This analysis, along with the issuance of electric vehicle battery state of health certificates, fully illustrates Arval's expertise and commitment to accelerating the energy transition. By providing concrete insights, they help remove barriers and change perceptions that can hinder the re-sell of electric vehicles. A transparency approach is essential to build consumer trust and to stimulate a still-developing used market," says Bart Beckers, Chief Commercial Officer of Arval.
Study Methodology
Arval's analysis is based on 8,300 health certificates conducted in 8 countries (Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, and Switzerland), of which 77% were BEVs and 23% were PHEVs. The health certificates were conducted for vehicles marketed by Arval from around 30 brands, sold between March 2023 and November 2024.
1CARA (Car Remarketing Association Europe) is a European association that aims to promote and develop best practices in the field of car remarketing, by uniting professionals in the sector to share knowledge and experiences.