Motoring group NRMA has teamed with Austrian battery specialist Aviloo to launch an electric car battery-checking service in a move designed to give buyers and sellers greater confidence in the transport technology.
The announcement comes after auction firm Pickles launched battery health scores for more than 650 electric cars on its site, and following the launch of a mobile battery-testing service.
The advances could breathe new life into the second-hand EV market, which figures show fell in popularity during August.
NRMA launched its Battery Health Check service in Sydney this week, promising it would use advanced diagnostic tools to assess a battery's condition and capacity.
The battery was the most vital piece of any electric vehicle, NRMA roadside executive general manager Carolyn Darke said, and a strong indicator of a car's longevity.
"The condition of an EV battery is the most important thing to consider when purchasing an EV because it's the most expensive part to replace," she said.
"Nobody wants to end up buying an EV with a poor battery."
The lifespan of a car's battery could be affected by its age, use, exposure to extreme temperatures, and frequent fast-charging, Ms Darke said.
The company's battery health checks, initially available in Sydney, would be expanded to Canberra motorists in future.
The service comes one month after Aviloo launched its own TestMyEV service for battery health, and after Pickles published battery health scores on many of the electric vehicles on its website in July.
The auction firm delivers battery health certificates with electric cars tested at its Sydney and Melbourne branches, each giving the batteries a rating and a comparison to similar vehicles.
The additional information could prevent buyers from "bidding in the dark," Pickles automotive solutions general manager Brendon Green said, and would be rolled out nationally.
"Battery health scores are the key to unlocking broader EV adoption," he said.
"It determines resale value, driving range and long-term reliability."
Electric vehicles tested by Pickles delivered an average battery health of 96.1 per cent, Mr Green said, with most models between two and four years of age showing a battery health of 95.6 per cent.
Despite the positive results, sales of used electric vehicles remain low, with the Automotive Insights Report from the Australian Automotive Dealer Association and AutoGrab showing motorists purchased 2750 vehicles in August, down by 9.8 per cent on July.
The number represented 1.35 per cent of all second-hand vehicle sales.
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