A new inspection service from RedBook Inspect aims to bring clarity, transparency and confidence to the growing used electric vehicle market.
RedBook Inspect, part of carsales, has launched a new Electric Vehicle (EV) battery health testing service to help buyers and dealers better understand the condition of high-voltage batteries — the most expensive and critical component in any EV.
The move responds directly to carsales’ latest research showing that 59% of Australians considering an EV are most concerned about battery health. The service provides a State of Health (SoH) report that quantifies how much battery capacity remains compared to new, helping to take the guesswork out of used EV purchases.
Available in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, the new battery testing option can be added to RedBook Inspect’s standard pre-purchase condition inspection for consumers. Dealers can also access the same technology through AutoGate, carsales’ inventory management platform, allowing them to display certified battery health reportsalongside their online listings.
Trusted testing technology
RedBook Inspect’s solution uses the AVILOO Flash Test, a high-voltage diagnostic test that connects directly to the vehicle’s onboard systems. It measures real-world charging behaviour, energy storage capacity, and overall performance to generate an independent, certified battery health report benchmarked against similar vehicles.
The results provide buyers, dealers, and fleet operators with an easy-to-understand snapshot of a vehicle’s true condition — a critical factor for predicting range, resale value, and long-term running costs.
Ryan Svaghi, Executive General Manager of Consumer Product and Design at carsales, said the initiative aims to make the used EV market more transparent.
“Understanding battery performance is key to unlocking EV adoption in the used car market,” Mr Svaghi said. “By offering battery health tests, we’re helping buyers make more informed decisions and giving dealers a cost-effective way to demonstrate greater credibility and transparency. Ultimately, it’s about making it easier for Australians to embrace electric mobility with more confidence.”
Certification builds trust and resale value
According to AVILOO research, independent certification has a major influence on buyer confidence and sales outcomes.
- Over half of potential EV buyers who previously preferred new vehicles said they would consider buying a used EV if an independent battery certificate were available.
- Battery-certified vehicles are around 36% more likely to sell.
- 81% of customers report greater trust in dealers offering certified battery reports.
Marcus Berger, CEO of AVILOO, said the partnership with RedBook Inspect helps remove one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption.
“Uncertainty about the condition of the battery remains one of the biggest hurdles when buying used electric vehicles. With our independent analysis method, we help create trust for both buyers and dealers.”
Implications for fleet operators
For Fleet Managers, this development introduces a valuable new tool for evaluating residual values and planning replacement cycles as more battery-electric vehicles enter end-of-lease or remarketing phases. Independent SoH data can help fleet owners verify battery performance before resale or redeployment into secondary duties, improving transparency across the asset lifecycle.
For Sustainability Managers, it supports the case for extending EV lifespans and maximising utilisation — key to achieving corporate emission-reduction targets.
And for Finance Managers, independent battery data enhances confidence in whole-of-life cost models and helps ensure the business retains fair market value at disposal.
Making EV ownership easier
RedBook Inspect’s new battery health service brings a level of assurance that has long existed in the internal combustion vehicle market through compression tests and mechanical inspections — now applied to the EV era.
For consumers, it delivers peace of mind. For dealers, it offers a cost-effective, scalable way to build buyer trust and accelerate sales. And for fleets, it represents a practical solution to manage risk and resale in the rapidly evolving used EV marketplace.
