Experts are calling for all used electric cars to have a "battery health certificate" included to boost interest in second-hand zero emission vehicles.
New research has found that just two per cent of petrol, diesel and hybrid drivers believe that electric batteries typically last longer than petrol and diesel engines.
Experts state that the lack of confidence in second-hand electric cars could have a damning impact on the future of EV sales, despite technological advancements.
Ginny Buckley, chief executive of Electrifying.com, noted that a "lack of understanding" about electric vehicle batteries is contributing to a lack of confidence in used EVs.
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She has called for battery health certificates to be made mandatory in all second-hand electric vehicles to give drivers confidence in cleaner vehicles.
Several brands already have these certificates included in their used vehicles, including Polestar, with pre-owned Polestar 2s featuring a battery "state-of-health" certificate.
The Swedish brand said this would give customers "peace of mind that their battery is in peak health and reassurance that many more miles of hassle-free motoring is ahead of them".
Polestar initiates a 112-point inspection before selling a pre-owned vehicle to a customer, including verified mileage, service and ownership certificates.
Experts are calling for battery health certificates to be introduced for second-hand electric vehicles
|GETTY/AXA
Ms Buckley noted that when people buy houses, they expect to receive an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), to help the new homeowner better understand their house.
She suggested that this should be the same for electric vehicles, especially as people still believe myths around charging and battery health.
"A clear, standardised measure of battery health, independently checked and updated at MOT stage once a car is over three-years-old, would take much of the fear out of buying a used EV - and unlock the used market faster than short-term incentives."
The data found that 38 per cent of drivers would have more confidence in second-hand electric vehicles if they came with a formalised battery health certificate.
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The Electrifying.com website has more than 38,000 used electric vehicles on sale from 56 different brands from prices as low as £1,895 for a Nissan Leaf.
Ms Buckley also claimed that the Government was overlooking the used electric car market by only focusing on new EVs.
She added: "Practical measures like requiring standardised independent battery health checks, better consumer education and access to low-cost finance would do far more to unlock demand than continuing to prioritise new electric vehicle sales."
Labour's Electric Car Grant helps drivers save either £1,500 or £3,750 on a new electric car with a list price of £37,000 or less, with more than 45 models available to drivers.
Polestar's battery certificates aim to remove anxieties around electric vehicles
| POLESTARMore than 50,000 drivers have already taken advantage of the Electric Car Grant, which was boosted by a further £1.3billion extension by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the Autumn Budget.
Edmund King, President of the AA, said: "A big uptick in the sales of used EVs would be a game changer. Drivers need convincing on battery longevity before buying used EVs."
This was echoed by Mark Smith, head of fleet and used cars at Tesla UK and Ireland, acknowledging that there was some "unwarranted scepticism".
"All our vehicles have a built-in tool for checking the health of the battery. We hope other manufacturers adopt this thinking to benefit the transition to sustainable energy."