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Health status analysis
Analysis of the health of the battery in an electric car in 15 min
Health status analysis
Analysis of the health of the battery in an electric car in 15 min
Health status analysis
Analysis of the health of the battery in an electric car in 15 min
Health status analysis
Analysis of the health of the battery in an electric car in 15 min
Battery test for electric cars
DEKRA launches unique battery test for electric cars
Should you buy or sell an electric car? Now you can find out how the battery is doing through DEKRA's unique battery test. DEKRA measures the health of the battery and reproduces the result on a scale of 0-100, in just 15 minutes.
It is becoming increasingly important to be able to quickly evaluate the battery condition of electric cars. The need is above all greatest in the growing market for used electric cars, as the battery is considered the most expensive component in an electric car. That makes battery health, or remaining capacity, a critical factor in determining an electric car's value.
Are you interested in learning more about DEKRA's battery testing for electric vehicles? Read more here!
DEKRA is therefore launching a new service that makes it possible to easily assess the value of the battery's state of health, SoH.
Anders Gagner-Geeber, CEO of DEKRA Automotive AB.
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. 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.
- Independent test results for battery health, SoH. The result shows the remaining battery capacity, i.e. the degradation from a factory-new electric car.
- Simple three-step testing process: connect – accelerate – report.
- Results in just 15 minutes.
- Comparable results between different car models on the market.
Fast, easy and reliable
DEKRA's unique battery test consists of two parts. A statistical test where you first read data from the electric car's OBD socket using a dongle. In the subsequent dynamic test, the electric car is accelerated from standstill to around 40 km/h with the measuring equipment installed. The test takes a total of 15 minutes and is carried out at one of DEKRA's inspection stations.
- The big advantage is that we can provide a very reliable assessment in a very short time. No one else on the market offers such a fast method today, continues Anders Gagner-Geeber.
Overall, the static and dynamic test gives a result that reproduces the degradation of the electric car's battery. On the scale, 100 means the battery is brand new.
A used electric car shows a lower value due to factors such as age, number of charges and mileage.
The state of health of electric car batteries decreases relatively evenly at first, but after the battery has lost 20–30 percent of its initial capacity, the state of health falls faster. The loss of both range and performance thus has a greater impact on the car's usability.
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.
- This is good news for car dealers, leasing companies and private individuals alike, as it provides a basis for more transparent sales negotiations, concludes Anders Gagner-Geeber.
Battery age is not only a function of linear time (calendar age) but also of the cycle of charge and discharge (cyclic age). As the battery ages, its capacity gradually decreases, affecting the vehicle's range. Aging of the drive battery in an electric car means deterioration of the battery's properties. In addition to aging, high temperatures, overcharging (high voltage), deep discharge (low voltage) and high charging current affect the health of the EV battery and consequently its capacity.
The battery is the most expensive component in an electric car, making its health – defined as its remaining capacity – a critical factor in determining the car's value. The health state decreases rapidly starting at 70-80% of the battery's initial capacity. With our battery test, battery capacity can be accurately measured and verified. This is good news for car dealers and leasing companies as well as private individuals, as it provides the basis for more transparent sales negotiations. It also provides a clear and precise statement of actual battery capacity and thus an indication of usability.
This solution provides fast and accurate results, delivered in minutes rather than hours, which is typical of other battery tests. These lengthy procedures require the battery to be discharged or recharged, whereas the DEKRA battery test does not. In fact, our test can be completed in about 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 to the mobile application via the Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI). In addition, the battery must meet the following conditions:
- 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 is displayed. Finally, for the dynamic test, a space of 100 meters is required for acceleration.
The procedure is based on measuring various battery data such as currents and voltages under load, i.e. during a short acceleration, via the Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI). However, the real skill lies in classifying the values measured here. Behind the procedure lies a very complex, highly elaborated database and a patented algorithm. Baseline 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 help of artificial intelligence. We refer to the whole process as "parameterization". The values measured in the test case are then evaluated based on these type-specific parameters.
The easy-to-read report includes the health value, OEM data, such as rated capacity, cell voltage and cell current, as well as more general information about the vehicle, such as model, vehicle ID number and mileage. The report is available immediately after the evaluation and can be saved and downloaded via DEKRA's customer portal.
So far we have parameterized a large number of models. Among them are models from various German and European manufacturers (VW, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Renault) but also Asian brands (Kia, Hyundai). We are constantly working on additional parameterizations. As the parameterization process is very complex, we initially concentrate on the vehicle types that are often used in a specific market or by specific customers.
Here you can see a list of which car models have been fully tested and on which battery tests can currently be performed. Testable car models…
About DEKRA
- DEKRA has been providing security since its inception over 90 years ago. With passion and expertise and with 44,000 employees worldwide today, we are forward thinking for safety.
- On the move, at work and at home - DEKRA's skilled experts create increased security in all key areas of life. We ensure the safety of human interaction with technology and the environment, especially when it comes to digitization.
Downloadable files about DEKRA's Battery Test
Below are downloadable files containing information about DEKRA's Battery Test. The files are in Swedish.
- DEKRA Faktablad Batteritest - Företag(PDF, 298.4 KB)
- DEKRA Faktablad Batteritest - Varför välja DEKRA?(PDF, 222 KB)
- DEKRA Faktablad Batteritest B2B - Bilhandlare(PDF, 244.2 KB)
- DEKRA Faktablad Batteritest allmänt(PDF, 248.4 KB)
- DEKRA Funktionsblad Batteritest(PDF, 276.7 KB)
- DEKRA Infografik Batteritest(PDF, 385.2 KB)
Articles/press releases on Battery test and electric cars
- Article: Are you considering getting an electric car?
- Article: The electric car - an increasingly common sight on our roads
- Article: How to make the best use of your electric car
- Article: How eco-friendly is the electric car, really?
- Artikel: "I think we'll soon see various customer segments for electric cars"
- Article: How electric car batteries differ in performance across types
- Article: Safety of an electric car in practice
- Article: Innovative solutions for greener electric car batteries
- Article: Electric car – efficient under the hood
- Pressmeddelande: "100 percent is not bad, given that the car has a few years on it"
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