Unique battery test for electric cars
Quick and accurate insight into remaining battery capacity
The electric car battery is the primary marker of the vehicle’s value. Unfavorable conditions such as an inefficient driving style, high driving speed, heat and cold, mileage, charging cycles and many other factors can diminish battery capacity. Our test provides a reliable, transparent statement of the battery's remaining capacity so that buyers and sellers can better estimate the value, functionality and performance of used electric cars.
Advantages of our battery test
- Insight into electric car battery capacity in just 15 minutes
- Simple test process: connect > accelerate > report
- Immediate test result available; the report can also be emailed to you
- Independent and transparent Battery State of Health report
Our electric car battery test provides a reliable indication of the battery’s capacity with results in minutes
As electromobility experts with many years of experience, we at DEKRA know that the State of Health (SoH), defined as the remaining capacity, of a used electric car’s battery has a strong influence on the value and performance of the vehicle. Our web application-based battery test for electric cars provides an accurate picture of the battery’s State of Health, assessed on the basis of a 15-minute analysis. Covering a large number of electric car models from different manufacturers, our solution provides neutral, independent battery test results that you can rely on when using, buying and selling used electric cars. Our service is available in various European countries.
Our battery test determines the remaining capacity of a used electric car's battery in 15 minutes and based on 4 simple steps.
- Step 1. Preparation: Access the battery test URL on your smartphone. Connect the Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI) to the cable then the cable to the OBD port.
- Step 2. Static test: After entering general vehicle data, required diagnostic data is read out and general readiness is verified.
- Step 3. Dynamic test: Data is gathered during a brief acceleration.
- Step 4. DEKRA report: The evaluation is completed in a few minutes. It shows the residual battery capacity in a clear and understandable format. The full report with additional information can be sent to the user by email.
Patented algorithm in cooperation with the University of Aachen
The battery test with its patented algorithm has been validated by the prestigious RWTH Aachen University. The test is sophisticated, fast and precise, with the added benefit of providing an independent and objective assessment of the residual battery capacity of these electric cars. This helps promote transparency and trust surrounding used EV sales.
Available models for the Battery Test
Every car model included in our list is first examined in detail at our DEKRA test center in Germany. As a result, we can determine, via the battery's internal resistance, what the battery SoH of the car model is. It is important to first check whether your model is available for testing.
The complete list of car models can be found here. This list will be updated regularly with additional models.
Questions?
Do you still have some questions with regards to the test? Please let us know via the form below and we will get in touch.
Battery age is not only a function of linear time (calendar age) but also of the cycle of charging and discharging (cyclical age). As the battery ages, its capacity gradually decreases, affecting the vehicle’s range. Ageing of the traction battery of an electric car means deterioration of the battery’s characteristics. In addition to aging, high temperatures, overcharging (high voltage), deep discharging (low voltage), high charging current affect the EV battery State of Health and consequently its capacity.
The battery is the most expensive component in an electric car, which makes its State of Health (SoH)—defined as its remaining capacity—a crucial factor in determining the car’s value. The SoH decreases rapidly beginning at 70-80% of the battery’s initial capacity. With our battery test, the battery capacity can be accurately measured. This 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 connect with the mobile application via 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, for the dynamic test, a space of 100 meters is necessary for acceleration.
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 here. Behind the procedure is a highly complex, very elaborate database and a patented algorithm. The basic data is determined in advance for each individual vehicle type with measurements run under a wide range of conditions; this is followed by appropriate structuring and further complex calculations, in some cases with the aid of artificial intelligence. We refer to the entire process as "parameterization". The values measured in the test case are then evaluated based on these type-specific parameters.
The easy-to-read report contains the SoH value, 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 following the evaluation and can be sent to the user via email.
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 working on further parameterizations. Since the parameterization process is very complex, we are initially concentrating on the vehicle models that are frequently used in a specific market or by specific customers. Here you can find the full list of electric car models available for our battery test.