A cross-industry group is lobbying for checks on drivetrain batteries to be added to the MOT regime.
The 4R Battery Alliance, which is made up of stakeholders from across the battery supply chain, believes introducing EV battery testing into the MOT would mark a critical step toward building a sustainable and circular EV battery ecosystem in the UK, delivering significant benefits to both businesses and consumers.
The alliance argues that a standardised battery health assessment is an essential evolution for the current MOT framework. Its position aligns with the group’s mission to promote the ‘4Rs’ of battery stewardship: Repair, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle.
New MOT rules introduced this year brought in additional safety checks for EVs, including visual inspections of high-voltage cabling and visible battery mountings. However, battery testing is still not part of the framework, even though a damaged battery could have safety implications if it fails in use, the alliance said.
Tom Rumboll, chair of the 4R Battery Alliance and a former chief executive of recycling firm Synetiq, said: “EV battery testing is one of the key enablers of a circular economy. Without it, we can’t confidently reuse, repurpose or recycle batteries at scale. We see this as part of a broader, industry-wide effort to normalise battery diagnostics and make them an integral part of EV ownership.
“By working together, we can create a system that benefits consumers, supports innovation and strengthens the UK’s leadership in the transition to EVs.”
Mandated testing as batteries age would identify batteries suitable for repair, reuse and repurposing into second-life applications, such as battery energy storage systems (BESS), and it would support the used EV market, by providing greater clarity, confidence and certainty about battery condition.
The alliance notes that some parts of the EV sector have made considerable progress towards introducing battery testing, but on a voluntary basis. It argues that this needs to be matched across the whole sector.
The last public consultation on the future of MOTs, conducted in 2023, reported a great deal of interest in how the current test could be adapted to improve the safety and reliability of EVs.