Authority to Determine Defective Batteries Should Be Separated from Automakers

[Policy Regulation] There is an urgent need to standardize the criteria for assessing the State of Health (SOH) of new energy vehicle batteries to prevent automakers from acting as both players and referees.

Core Development: SOH Evaluation Should Not Be Exclusively Controlled by Automakers

Currently, battery SOH is calculated by automakers using proprietary Battery Management System (BMS) algorithms, resulting in a virtual value rather than actual measured data. Consumers only receive the final percentage and cannot access raw parameters such as cell voltage deviation or capacity degradation, leading to frequent warranty disputes.

Strategic Foundation: Regulatory Gaps Create Information Asymmetry

Although national warranty regulations stipulate minimum time and mileage thresholds for battery coverage, they do not standardize SOH calculation models or evaluation guidelines. This grants automakers interpretive authority, allowing them to classify BMS algorithms as trade secrets, thereby exacerbating consumers’ difficulties in asserting their rights.

Industry Impact: Consensus Emerges on Establishing Third-Party Testing Mechanisms

The industry is calling for an independent evaluation system, with third-party institutions involved in battery health certification to safeguard users’ right to information and ensure fair warranty entitlements.