Cox Automotive launches tool to check batteries of EVs running at Manheim
Cox Automotive wants dealers to have confidence in the battery health of the electric vehicle they acquire through Manheim.
So, on Wednesday the company launched a solution that will measure the EV battery health for each specific VIN across Manheim.
In addition, Cox Automotive said it is expanding LotVision’s capabilities of reporting battery health for each unique vehicle.
The company highlighted Cox Automotive’s VIN-specific solution, developed by its EV Battery Solutions team, uses Manheim’s LotVision technology to assess the battery in each unique vehicle. The tool can transmit in-depth battery health information to condition reports (CRs) and vehicle detail pages (VDPs) on Manheim.com.
To measure battery health on each vehicle, Manheim is leveraging its LotVision devices, which are already in use across all 76 locations in the U.S.
First used for geolocating vehicles on its lots, LotVision devices are installed in all vehicles with an OBD II port at check-in.
Now, with a simple firmware update, these devices can be used to capture EV battery health information in minutes, and they can transmit that information automatically to Manheim CRs and VDPs, where battery health information will be prominently displayed when the listing goes live on Manheim.com.
Information to be displayed will include a battery health score (0-100%) that represents the remaining battery capacity captured directly from the vehicle, alongside detailed vehicle-specific information that aims to empower buyers in making informed decisions like warranty information, battery chemistry, charging cable presence and more.
As a bonus, since the LotVision devices remain installed while a vehicle is on a Manheim lot, they will also report on each vehicle’s current state of charge.
Created in partnership with Cox2M — the commercial IoT business line within Cox Communications — LotVision is a wireless tracking device placed in a vehicle that can help dealers, transporters and team members accurately locate vehicles on Manheim lots to within 10 feet.
“EV battery health scores that are based on make/model averages are just that…average,” Cox Automotive president Steve Rowley said in a news release. “That’s why we continue to invest in innovations that help our clients make important decisions affecting their businesses.”
Cox Automotive is anticipating that VIN-specific battery state of health will be the new standard in the industry.
Manheim has been preparing for the influx of EVs into the wholesale marketplace.
Since 2019, Manheim has invested more than $200 million in EV infrastructure and process improvements. Manheim now offers sellers more than 800 EV chargers, storage and access to more than 850 trained technicians who can safely handle, service and dispose of EV batteries.
Last year, approximately 48,000 EVs were sold in the Manheim Marketplace, a 58% increase year-over-year. The company expects that number to double this year and continue increasing in the coming years.
In April, clients will begin seeing the expanded battery health information on Manheim CRs and VDPs across most makes and models.
“At Manheim, we have more experience than anyone in driving confidence in the wholesale marketplace—and one thing we know for sure is that nobody likes surprises,” said Grace Huang, president of Cox Automotive Inventory Solutions.
“With this innovative new use of LotVision, we’re giving clients exactly what they need: the most detailed information possible on each individual EV so they can make informed buying and selling decisions,” Huang continued.
“Ultimately, transparency drives confidence in the wholesale marketplace, and that’s why we have been — and will continue to be — committed to giving our clients VIN-specific battery health information,” she went on to say.