Generational just launched cell-level voltage testing for EV batteries, empowering non-technical staff at automotive retailers to spot performance issues early before they hit vehicle value, drivability, or customer satisfaction.
This upgrade to their battery diagnostics platform lets retailers check voltage balance across individual cells in a pack. Sure, overall battery health (State of Health) is key, but it only shows total capacity.
Voltage balance reveals how evenly cells charge and discharge compared to each other catching problems that headline metrics might miss.
In a typical EV pack, hundreds of lithium-ion cells work as one unit. For top performance, their voltages need to stay closely matched. If one cell starts lagging, trouble follows.
Over time, imbalances creep in from temperature swings, charging habits, or aging. A weak cell drags down the whole pack, the battery management system cuts charge/discharge short to protect it, shrinking range and power even if most cells are fine.
Worse, it can force expensive module swaps (thousands of pounds), tank resale value, or stress other cells into faster degradation.
For retailers, early detection cuts risks in buying, valuing, and selling used EVs. Generational’s cell-level voltage testing lets mechanics and dealer staff alike flag abnormal cell variance, quantifying the gap between highest and lowest voltages to see if it’s normal or needs a deeper look.
This added transparency sharpens appraisals, avoids ownership surprises, and builds buyer trust in the used EV market.
The timing’s spot-on as Generational’s recent Battery Performance Index (from 8,000+ UK EV assessments) shows average health at 95.15%, with 8-9-year-olds still at 85% median capacity.
But as vehicles age, performance spreads out making detailed tests vital to spot the duds amid the good ones. Two batteries with matching SoH can drive very differently if one’s cells are out of whack.
As battery condition drives EV valuations and confidence, diagnostics like this are becoming must-have infrastructure.
Dealers gain more than risk reduction, Cell-level voltage testing speeds sales by tackling battery worries head-on, especially for savvy buyers. Now, you can show an independent cell-by-cell check beyond the top-line score, justifying the price and smoothing deals.
With used EVs flooding the market, advanced battery checks will soon be as standard as service history or odometer reads.
This launch advances Generational’s push for a transparent used EV ecosystem, helping retailers buy, stock, and sell with confidence, accuracy, and better profits.
Leadership Comments
Oliver Phillpott, CEO of Generational, said: “For EV batteries to operate as intended, every cell in the pack needs to remain balanced. When one cell begins to drop out of line, it can limit the performance of the entire battery, affecting range and drivability, and in some cases leading to expensive module replacement.
“For most dealers, getting a meaningful read on EV battery condition has meant sending it to a workshop – slow, costly and often not practical at the point of appraisal. Generational’s tool enables anyone on the forecourt to run a test, yielding results that are understandable and actionable. For retailers, this means more confident pricing and a reduction in risk.”
