In-depth articles
Detailed explanation of the technology behind the battery certificates.
Technology
High-voltage battery testing
What exactly an HV battery pack is, how to measure its state of health, and why this can be done without opening the car.
Technology
Battery degradation
What the SOH value means, what causes a pack to degrade, and how much a test costs.
Buy and sell
Battery reliability
How to check a battery's condition, and which methods are completely useless.
The document
SOH certificate
What is in the report, what it costs, and how you check if a certificate is genuine.
Method
Independent test method
What SOH means, what certification entails, and why it matters who is measuring.
Buy
Pre-purchase inspection
Inspect the battery before you sign, using the data spread from our own measurements.
Frequently asked questions
All about SOH tests, battery certificates, and battery degradation. Click a question for the full answer.
SOH & technology
The State of Health is the percentage of capacity that the battery currently delivers compared to when it was new.
Battery degradation is a natural chemical process. Frequent fast charging, consistently charging to 100%, and extreme temperatures accelerate it.
Reading retrieves the value that the manufacturer calculates themselves. Testing verifies that value based on the actual behavior of the battery.
With an OBD dongle and the PKC app, you can read the battery data. Within 3 minutes, you will have an SOH percentage and a certificate.
Not from the outside. Warning signs include a rapidly decreasing range, an erratic charging curve, and cells falling out of balance.
For hybrids and plug-ins as well, you measure the battery condition with a SOH test. Symptoms alone are not reliable enough.
Look beyond the SOH percentage: cell balance, charging history, and the remaining factory warranty together determine the picture.
The high-voltage battery is the large battery pack that powers an electric car, usually 400 or 800 volts.
Via a TBE test. Immediately after the measurement, you will receive the certificate as a PDF and JPEG.
Look at brand coverage, speed, whether the certificate is independent, and whether it integrates with your own systems.
Yes, via an API link, certificates can automatically end up in your own inventory or advertising system.
Have a TBE test performed; immediately afterwards you will receive the certificate as a PDF and JPEG.
Yes. The PKC app performs the measurement; you manage certificates in the online environment, which can be linked to your own systems.
An independent party has no interest in the outcome, and the measurement is structured the same way for every brand.
With the right dongle and app you can measure it yourself. For a certificate that a buyer trusts, an approved method is required.
In practice, the same document: an independent report on the battery condition with SOH, cell balance, and warranty status.
Certificate & report
A battery certificate is an independent report on the health (State of Health) of an electric car's battery.
Yes. The certificate serves as objective proof of the battery condition and can serve as substantiation in legal matters.
The SOH percentage, cell balance, charging history, warranty status, and a benchmark against similar vehicles.
Via a TBE test. Immediately after the measurement, you will receive the certificate as a PDF and JPEG.
Each TBE certificate has a QR code that leads to the original digital version.
With an independent battery certificate included in the advertisement. This removes the buyer's biggest doubt.
CARA is a European certification for battery health tests. The TBE method is CARA approved.
A certificate removes the greatest doubt for buyers, which increases confidence and leads to a faster sale.
€80 including VAT at an affiliated garage. As a car company, €29.95 excluding VAT per certificate.
Have a TBE test performed; immediately afterwards you will receive the certificate as a PDF and JPEG.
Yes. The TBE method is CARA approved and also applies to Tesla models.
An independent party has no interest in the outcome, and the measurement is structured the same way for every brand.
In practice, the same document: an independent report on the battery condition with SOH, cell balance, and warranty status.
Costs
For most cars, an SOH diagnosis takes about 3 minutes.
€80 including VAT at an affiliated garage. As a car company, €29.95 excluding VAT per certificate.
One-time fee of €99 excluding VAT. Thereafter, you pay €29.95 excluding VAT per completed test.
Yes. Volume discounts apply for larger quantities. Please contact us to discuss the options for your situation.
As a private individual, €80 incl. VAT at an affiliated garage. As a car company, €29.95 excl. VAT per test, plus a one-off €99 excl. VAT for the hardware.
For one car: to an affiliated garage near you, for €80 including VAT. If you test more often, owning your own equipment is worth it.
€29.95 excluding VAT per test, plus a one-off fee of €99 excluding VAT for the hardware.
Testing & process
No. The equipment is plug-and-play: insert the dongle into the OBD port, follow the app, and you're done. No prior technical knowledge is required.
For most cars, an SOH diagnosis takes about 3 minutes.
No. The equipment only reads data and cannot write anything to the vehicle. There is no risk to the car.
You are using the PKC app (Power checK Control) from powercruisecontrol, in combination with the TBE equipment.
You need the OBDII Bluetooth dongle, a smartphone with the PKC app, and a valid license for the vehicle (based on VIN).
With an OBD dongle and the PKC app, you can read the battery data. Within 3 minutes, you will have an SOH percentage and a certificate.
Have an independent SOH test performed. In just 3 minutes, it shows how much capacity the battery has left, regardless of what the seller says.
Each TBE certificate has a QR code that leads to the original digital version.
Yes. A re-measurement is useful after a long period of inactivity or if you want to track the condition over time.
At one of our affiliated garages. On the location page, you can see which businesses in your area are participating.
No. You perform the test at one of our affiliated garages.
About 3 minutes, just like with other brands. You only need the correct adapter cable.
With an independent SOH test. It shows the remaining capacity of the battery in 3 minutes.
The TBE Toolkit supports both fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids, together making up more than 90% of the fleet.
At The Battery Experts. The measurement is not tied to a brand, dealer, or leasing company.
For most cars about 3 minutes, from connection to certificate.
In practice, the same document: an independent report on the battery condition with SOH, cell balance, and warranty status.
Vehicles & brands
TBE can test more than 90% of current battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV). Check your model in the portal.
For hybrids and plug-ins as well, you measure the battery condition with a SOH test. Symptoms alone are not reliable enough.
Yes. TBE supports both fully electric cars (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV).
Yes. All current Tesla models are supported, including Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X.
Yes. The electric Kia models are supported, including the e-Niro, Soul EV, and EV6.
As a private individual, €80 incl. VAT at an affiliated garage. As a car company, €29.95 excl. VAT per test, plus a one-off €99 excl. VAT for the hardware.
Yes. The Model 3 is supported; depending on the year of manufacture, a specific adapter cable is required.
Yes. The Model Y is supported, including the Highland version.
About 3 minutes, just like with other brands. You only need the correct adapter cable.
Have a TBE test performed; immediately afterwards you will receive the certificate as a PDF and JPEG.
Yes. The TBE method is CARA approved and also applies to Tesla models.
With an independent SOH test. It shows the remaining capacity of the battery in 3 minutes.
With an independent battery certificate for your advertisement, as a PDF or JPEG.
The TBE Toolkit supports both fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids, together making up more than 90% of the fleet.
For car companies
With the TBE Toolkit, you can test yourself in your own workshop. You will need the dongle, the app, and a license per vehicle.
Look at brand coverage, speed, whether the certificate is independent, and whether it integrates with your own systems.
You can order the TBE Toolkit directly from The Battery Experts, including adapter cables and the corresponding app.
Yes, via an API link, certificates can automatically end up in your own inventory or advertising system.
Yes. The test takes about 3 minutes per car, making it suitable for larger quantities.
Yes. Conducted tests, vehicle data, and certificates can be found in the online environment.
The OBDII Bluetooth dongle from the TBE Toolkit, with the adapter cable that corresponds to your brand and year of manufacture.
Yes. The PKC app performs the measurement; you manage certificates in the online environment, which can be linked to your own systems.
You can order the TBE Toolkit directly from The Battery Experts, including cables and app access.
With own equipment in the workshop. Approximately 3 minutes per car, without special training.