Stay Ahead in the Evolving HV Battery Repair Market!
Equip your workshop with the best in EV diagnostics:
🔎Accurate, In-Depth Reports: Provide detailed insights into battery health.
🧑Increase Customer Trust: Help customers choose repair with confidence.
💸Attract New EV Owners: Become a trusted expert in the growing EV market.
🚀Upgrade your diagnostic capabilities today and offer unparalleled service to both existing and new customers!
The increase of EVs and hybrids (New energy vehicles) on our roads has similarly increased the range of components to diagnose, so it stands to reason that a new range of diagnostic tools is also required.
In addition to the usual control units in any modern vehicle, there are a host of unique EV control units based around the high voltage battery pack.
EV high voltage battery SOH (state of health) has the biggest effect on vehicle life span and resale value. EV owners who understand how to maximise battery life by minimising degradation will have the best financial EV ownership experience, but that is another article on its own.
Why Your Workshop Needs Advanced EV Diagnostic Tools
Battery technology is increasing the range of Evs pretty rapidly but in our current fleet you can expect an increase in requests for battery SOH reports, particularly around sale and purchase time. As sellers and repairers, accurate reporting on this expensive and deteriorating part of the EV could be good for business.
Until recently, independent workshops have relied on traditional ICE vehicle scan tools to diagnose EVs. While fine in many diagnostic situations, we are Kiwis after all, in depth HV battery pack testing is often not adequately covered.
The EV specific control systems for diagnosis include the high voltage electric drivetrain, drive train controller, DC/DC converter, onboard charger, high voltage distribution box, high voltage heating/ventilation and cooling systems and of course the high voltage battery itself.
Enter the latest generation of EV diagnostic tools with vehicle and battery system diagnostic capabilities. Once Battery Diagnose is selected the tool is able to read and report on SOH/SOC, single cell voltage, pack voltage, total voltage, minimum/maximum voltage and variations, input/output current and power, battery temperature, ageing, internal resistance, number of charges and whether fast or slow.
Launch iSmart EV P01: A Game-Changer for EV Diagnostics
How to Diagnose EV Battery Health Effectively
The EV battery repair market is evolving hot on the heels of EV expansion and being able to provide a report on whether a cell or the entire battery is faulty could be the difference between a customer choosing to repair or not.
Launch has supplied diagnostic equipment to the Automotive aftermarket industry for over 30 years and has recently released a range of EV specific scan, repair and maintenance tools.
Launch is a high quality Chinese product and with over 10 million EVs on the road, China is at the forefront of transportation industry electrification. It is no real surprise then to know that Launch is also the largest manufacturer of aftermarket automotive diagnostic tools.
Size matters and as the world's largest player, Launch’s engineering team is not only leading equipment and software development, it also backs that up with industry leading support.
On the main user interface screen, select vehicle system or HV battery pack diagnostics modes.
In vehicle system mode all control units are accessible, including ADAS, and by selecting a single system or full system, technicians can identify and record faults onto an exportable report. The tool is also able to identify and clear fault codes, read, graph and record live data, test actuators, carry out resets, special functions and some programming.
In HV battery pack diagnostic mode the Launch iSmart EV P01 is able to connect with over 95% of EVs and Hybrids via one of three methods. Quick access is possible for most makes through OBD connection. Other vehicles require connection via a specific pack connector and in some cases pin out wiring is required.
Some batteries can also be diagnosed through the charge port with a special adapter.
Exportable battery pack data via email or printer.
Preparing Your Business for the EV Market
Prepare yourself for in-depth accurate EV diagnostics providing increased peace of mind for your existing customers as well as attracting those looking to move into EV ownership.
Prepare your business to work safely in this space with the right tools and training. Our skin can provide insulation preventing damage to human tissue up to around 50 volts when dry but when wet or through a wound, 40 volts can be lethal. Typically in EVs battery voltages range from around 200 to 800 volts so there is a new element of risk in the EV repair space.
What is EV battery SOH?
EV battery SOH (State of Health) refers to the condition of an electric vehicle’s battery, including its remaining charge capacity and overall lifespan. Regular diagnostics can help track this and improve battery longevity.
How to diagnose EV battery health?
To diagnose EV battery health, focus on key factors such as:
State of Health (SOH): This measures the battery's overall capacity compared to when it was new. A lower SOH indicates reduced battery performance.
State of Charge (SOC): The current charge level of the battery. A significant drop in SOC could signal issues.
Cell Voltage & Balance: Check if individual battery cells have consistent voltage. Imbalances can indicate failing cells.
Internal Resistance: Increased resistance can reduce the battery’s efficiency and lifespan.
Charge Cycles: Monitor the number of full charge-discharge cycles the battery has gone through; more cycles usually lead to wear.
Temperature: Check for abnormal temperatures, which can signal cooling issues or overheating.
Load Testing: Evaluate how the battery performs under load, such as during acceleration, to detect performance degradation.
Use specialised diagnostic tools like the Launch iSmart EV P01 to read battery data, including voltage, resistance, temperature, and charge cycles for accurate diagnostics.
