Cox Automotive is rolling out a new solution for the used car industry that will measure the EV battery health for each specific VIN across Manheim. In addition, the company is expanding LotVision’s capabilities of reporting battery health for each unique vehicle. Both enhancements give wholesale buyers and sellers the information they need to make more informed and confident decisions.
Cox’s VIN-specific solution, developed by its EV Battery Solutions team, uses Manheim’s LotVision technology to quickly assess the battery in each unique vehicle and automatically transmit in-depth battery health information to condition reports (CRs) and vehicle detail pages (VDPs) here.
Created in partnership with Cox2M, the commercial IoT business line within Cox Communications, LotVision is a wireless tracking device placed in a vehicle that helps dealers, transporters, and team members accurately locate vehicles on Manheim lots within 10 feet.
Cox’s decade-long history of assessing EV battery state of health has shown that while most used EV batteries are relatively healthy, the outliers tend to be significantly degraded, highlighting the importance of measuring each individual vehicle.
“EV battery health scores that are based on make/model averages are just that…average,” said Steve Rowley, president of Cox Automotive. “That’s why we continue to invest in innovations that help our clients make important decisions affecting their businesses.”
How it works
To quickly measure battery health on each vehicle, Manheim is leveraging its innovative LotVision devices, which are already in use across all 76 locations in the US. First used for geolocating vehicles on its lots, LotVision devices are installed in all vehicles with an OBD II port at check-in.
Now, with a simple firmware update, these devices can be used to capture EV battery health information in minutes. LotVision can transmit that information automatically to Manheim CRs and VDPs, where battery health information will be displayed when the listing goes live on their website. This information will include a battery health score (0-100%) that represents the remaining battery capacity captured directly from the vehicle, alongside detailed vehicle-specific information that aims to empower buyers in making informed decisions like warranty information, battery chemistry, charging cable presence, and more.
As a bonus, since the LotVision devices remain installed while a vehicle is on a Manheim lot, they will also report on each vehicle’s current state of charge.
Manheim now offers sellers more than 800 EV chargers, safe storage, and access to 850+ trained technicians who can safely handle, service, and dispose of EV batteries. In 2023, approximately 48,000 EVs were sold in the Manheim Marketplace, a 58% increase year-over-year. The company expects that number to double in 2024 and continue increasing in the coming years. In April, clients will begin seeing the expanded battery health information on Manheim CRs and VDPs across most makes and models.
Filed Under: Technology News