Battery health is the new "km" of the used electric car; understand

If before the first glance of the buyer of a used car went straight to the odometer on the dashboard, the advancement of the fleet of electrified vehicles in Brazil imposed a natural paradigm shift. In the electric pre-owned market, mileage driven now shares attention with a new essential acronym: SoH (State of Health, or Battery Health).

The indicator, measured as a percentage from 0 to 100%, indicates the effective energy retention capacity of the component compared to when it left the factory. In practice, two electric cars with the same 30,000 km driven can have completely different market values depending on the SoH of each one.

Why isn't mileage enough anymore?
Unlike combustion engines, where wear is linear and measured by the physical use of the engine and the mechanical assembly (mileage), the useful life of the lithium-ion battery depends directly on the recharging habits of the previous owner.

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SoH is severely impacted by factors that the odometer does not record:

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Exclusive use of ultra-fast chargers (DC): the heat generated by high-power recharges accelerates the chemical degradation of cells.

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Thermal cycles: the climate in hotter regions of Brazil demands more from the battery cooling system.

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Load pattern: leaving the vehicle unloaded for long periods or frequently above 80% reduces its useful life.

The battery represents between 30% and 50% of the total value of an electric car. Buying a used car just looking at the mileage can be a mistake. If the SoH is below 75%, the consumer could take home a vehicle with severely reduced range and the specter of a component replacement that would cost the price of another car.

The impact on the market and on your wallet
Currently, the battery represents between 30% and 50% of the total value of an electric vehicle, which makes the SoH assessment the most critical financial factor in negotiation. Purchasing an electrified car based solely on the mileage driven can result in economic loss, as a battery health index below 75% indicates a severely reduced range and the proximity of a component replacement, the cost of which can be equivalent to the market value of the used car itself.

Because of this, the Brazilian market is already beginning to adapt to the SoH report requirement to guide resale prices. Retailers, dealerships and insurance companies start using diagnostic scanners plugged into the vehicle's OBD port to issue battery health certificates before closing any deal.

For the consumer, the main regulatory protection is still the factory warranty. Most automakers operating in the country offer coverage for 8 years or around 160,000 km specifically for the battery, guaranteeing replacement or repair if the SoH drops below 70% within this period.

How to protect yourself when purchasing a used electric vehicle
For those who are considering the purchase of a pre-owned electrified vehicle, experts recommend three fundamental steps:

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Require the SoH report: ask the seller or an authorized dealer for the battery diagnostic report extracted by the brand's official system;

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Check the service history: make sure the vehicle has undergone the battery management software (BMS) updates recommended by the manufacturer;

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Calculate remaining warranty: prioritize models that are still within the battery coverage window given by the automaker to mitigate future financial risks.

Electric cars lose range in extreme heat, says study

Source: CNN