Kia runs groundbreaking cell-level battery passport trial
Aussie drivers will soon be able to understand the health of their cars as they understand the health of their own bodies, thanks to a new space-age trial.
A major automaker has announced a revolutionary trial that could give drivers more confidence in making the jump to electric vehicles.
Kia will be conducting a public trial on its cell-level battery passport as part of research ahead of upcoming European regulation changes.
The South Korean carmaker will use the technology to provide live, detailed data on the health of each individual battery cell inside its electric vehicles and upload it to a digital passport.
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If the trial is successful, owners, mechanics, and regulators will be able to access real-time information like “State of Health” (SoH) tracking, real-time repair diagnostics, and end-to-end traceability across the life cycle of the battery.
The system will first debut in a Kia EV3 equipped with a Dukosi battery cell monitoring system.
Kia says a digital passport will benefit drivers by providing extended battery life, more affordable maintenance and more trust when investing in an electric car.
“Kia aims to set a new standard for customers regarding battery transparency and performance,” said Marc Hedrich, President and CEO at Kia Europe.
“Through testing cell-level battery passports, we gain insights on what ownership benefits we can offer our customers. On top of advantages such as extended battery life, we will be building on a relationship of trust as well.”
Kia plans to offer this service for all fully electric and hybrid electric models sold in Europe by February 2027, which is when the EU adopts its new mandatory digital battery passport regulation.
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Australia currently doesn’t have mandatory regulations surrounding digital battery passports in EVs; however, discussions are underway to explore Digital Product Passports (DPPs) to enhance transparency in the EV market.
Earlier this year, online auction platform Pickles rolled out its own Battery State of Health certification program in Australia.
The program uses diagnostic testing to measure a vehicle’s battery condition, charging performance and remaining range.
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According to the company’s latest analysis, buyers were more inclined to purchase a second-hand EV that was provided with certified battery health scores.
The online auction platform saw a 15 per cent increase in bidders and a 10 per cent rise in bids per vehicle compared with the industry average, along with a 6 per cent average price uplift since the Battery State of Health rollout.
“Battery health is one of the top drivers influencing used EV value,” says Pickles’ General Manager Brendon Green.
“With SoH certification, buyers know exactly what they’re getting – and that transparency is driving stronger results for sellers.
“They are unlocking tangible commercial benefits across the board – lifting values, accelerating time to sale, and expanding the buyer base.”
As Australia continues to accelerate towards electrification, the second-hand EV market is expected to surge due to novated lease expiries, the transition of corporate and government fleets, and private resales.
With this growing supply, tools that de-risk the purchase are becoming essential.
Originally published as Kia runs groundbreaking cell-level battery passport trial
