Across the UK, 473,348 electric cars were sold last year, says motoring organisation the RAC. Meanwhile, at the start of this year, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for nearly a quarter (23.4%) of the new car market, according to one major sales portal.
Electric supercars are redefining performance, with key models such as the Lotus Evija capable of extreme power. What’s more, luxury electric cars are capable of a battery range of more than 500 miles.
In fact, as the website Autocar put it, some of the fastest models in the world are now powered by electricity.
At family-run Bell & Colvill, we may have been established in 1970, but we’ve always moved with the times. So we love electric supercars, and we’re the only Guildford-based partner of Voltest. We work with iconic marques such as McLaren and Lotus, covering servicing, sales, repairs and more across Surrey. (Plus, we’re the world’s oldest Lotus dealer.)
And we know that, for many of our customers, ‘range anxiety’ or not knowing the true state of their car’s battery, can put them off making the switch to electric. Equally, for those who deal in these vehicles, they want to be able to pass on reassurance about battery state to their own customers. That’s where Voltest comes in.
What is it?
Voltest is a quick, electric vehicle (EV) battery diagnostic solution which dealerships, service shops, car auctioneers and others use to assess battery health in minutes, via second-generation on-board diagnostics (OBD2). A specialist OBD2 device is connected to the EV’s diagnostic port, which extracts real-time data from the Battery Management System (BMS) and analyses it via a smartphone app.
It’s a far quicker way of producing a comprehensive battery health report than the standard charge or discharge tests, which can take hours. Additionally, it takes the guesswork out of buying a used electric car and avoids expensive surprises with the early identification of degraded batteries.
What it means for personal users
- You get to understand the precise State of Health of your EV battery and how much capacity remains, allowing you to appreciate your vehicle’s true range.
- If you’re selling your model, you can prove your battery health to potential purchasers and therefore set the asking price accordingly.
- Voltest means so much more than the standard MOT. You’re adding vital health data to your car’s records.
Meanwhile, if you sell models commercially, you can look forward to faster turnover of vehicles, enhanced workshop efficiency, protection of your profit margins and a rise in conversions to sales, all because you remove ‘battery anxiety’ from the equation.
Essentially, you maximise the value of every hybrid and electric vehicle that passes through your doors.
How we work with Voltest
Unlike some of our competitors, we won’t ask you to buy anything or pay a monthly subscription. Just pay £49.99 for each test you book, with the fee including a digital certificate – what we offer is highly cost-effective.
Individual customers need to book an appointment and visit our Guildford branch; the test will be done while you wait. For business clients, we can come to your dealership or other premises.
We complete the Voltest process within 15 minutes, so there’s zero disruption to your business. What’s more, we cover almost all EVs and hybrids on the UK market.
Voltest differs from other diagnostic tools by being tailored to each vehicle model, so you get a bespoke, in-depth analysis. Plus, it