Polestar is introducing official battery health certificates for used versions of its Polestar 2 electric car. The new offer must calm nerves across Europe’s struggling second-hand EV market. The Electric car maker says the new certificate will help ease fears over battery life and falling used EV prices. The certificate will become mandatory in the EU as of 2027.
The Swedish-Chinese brand says the new “battery state-of-health” (BSOH) certificate will show buyers how much usable capacity is left in a vehicle’s battery. It’s the reassurance many would-be EV drivers have been waiting for. Not in the least, leasing companies, which businesses depend on, use remarketing strategies.
Slow degradation
Concerns over battery lifespan remain one of the biggest reasons people shy away from used electric cars. The fear of being stuck with a worn-out battery – and a potential replacement bill of up to € 30,000 – has left even well-priced EVs sitting on forecourts.
Yet research shows modern EV batteries degrade slowly and often outlast the cars themselves. Polestar says the new certificate is about giving people peace of mind and providing the transparency they need.
Every certified used Polestar 2 will undergo a 112-point check at an official service centre. Alongside the new battery report, buyers get verified records of the vehicle’s mileage, service history, and ownership.
There’s also a 24-month warranty on the vehicle, and the remaining balance of the original eight-year battery warranty, with Polestar promising a free replacement if battery capacity drops below 70% in that time. “Buyers can be confident they’re getting the very best example of a used Polestar 2 possible,” CEO of Polestar Michael Lohscheller added.
The move arrives just as the second-hand EV market faces a confidence crisis. In Belgium, for instance, the prices of used electric vehicles dropped 11.8% year-over-year in Q1 2025. Due to concerns over battery life, electric cars have the worst depreciation of all drivelines. Three-year-old electric cars retain just 45.1% of their value, a price squeeze that is eroding the leasing sector.
Others to follow
Polestar’s efforts come ahead of new EU rules, set to arrive in February 2027. These rules will require all new EVs to carry a digital “battery passport” that monitors battery health and tracks material sourcing, carbon footprint, and recycled content.
Volvo has already introduced one for its flagship EX90, and Renault and Jaguar have embarked on similar initiatives. As for Polestar, getting ahead of the curve currently only applies to the 2. However, in the press release, the carmaker says it will use such a scheme for the 4 and 3 in due time. The latter is twinned to the Volvo EX90, so the wait shouldn’t be long.
