A new battery health check system aims to boost confidence in the used electric vehicle market, according to UK-based startup Generational.
The technology helps both buyers make informed decisions and dealers assess vehicles more efficiently as the UK’s secondhand EV market experiences significant growth.
Recent data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows demand for used EVs jumped 57% year-on-year from 2024 to 2025. Of the 7,643,180 cars sold in the UK last year, 188,382 were EVs. Despite this growth, fewer than 40% of the UK’s 3,000+ car dealerships currently list a single pre-owned EV—largely due to knowledge and confidence gaps.
Generational‘s system works by connecting a small device to an EV’s OBD port. This device securely analyzes vehicle data to determine the battery’s state of health before dealer acquisition.
Results appear as a percentage comparing current condition to new, benchmarked against the manufacturer’s original specifications. The assessment also includes real-range evaluation.
“While the UK’s used electric-vehicle market is showing hugely encouraging signs of growth, that success needs to be sustainable in the long-term. From our experience with our customers, it’s clear that vehicle dealers’, and consumers’, confidence in pre-owned EVs needs to be uplifted,” said Oliver Phillpott, Generational CEO.
“In working with our customers and speaking to dealers across the country, we’re acutely aware that battery state-of-health is a critical concern for them and buyers. They need access to simple, transparent information to help them make a fully informed investment in electric vehicles, and that’s what we’re committed to doing.”
Used car supermarket Carbase is among the first businesses implementing Generational’s technology.
“Partnering with Generational has been a seamless experience. Their professional team integrated their system into our existing processes without disrupting daily operations,” said Alex Jones, Carbase COO.
“The intuitive software was quickly adopted by our team, enabling us to certify hundreds of electric vehicles efficiently. This has led to a remarkable 300% increase in ad views for our electric vehicles, enhancing customer trust and confidence in our stock. The certification process also provides valuable insights that support both retail and wholesale decision-making, reinforcing our commitment to quality and sustainability.”
Generational’s service mirrors a similar initiative launched by vehicle remarketer BCA last year. BCA performs battery health checks on EVs before trade auction, giving dealers clear information about any vehicle they’re considering and providing a simple report that can be shared with potential retail customers.
