Factors urged to review battery stock

Ecobat Battery has urged factors to review their battery stock profile and consider the changes needed.

Despite its familiarity and constant presence as a staple product supplied by factors to all their workshop customers, the 12-volt battery market is still undergoing developments factors need to be aware of, to fully exploit the opportunities they provide.

First to the basics; despite the growth in sales of full battery electric vehicles (BEV), the primary reason for their breakdown is shared with their combustion engine powered cousins, and that’s failure of the 12-volt battery. In fact, it has become such an issue for BEV manufacturers, that the 12-volt battery is becoming a three year replacement item, something becoming a comparative rarity for conventionally powered vehicles.

However, many workshops remain reluctant to undertake even the basic training which would allow them the option to service these vehicles so even a simple low voltage battery swap is work being lost to the franchised dealer.

Ecobat Battery, the UK’s largest battery distributor, is therefore raising the issue with factors to not only encourage their workshop customers to engage with the BEV community, but also to consider the profile of their own battery stock, to ensure it reflects the developments that are underway.

Having a close eye on the battery market allows Ecobat Battery to provide factors with information concerning market developments. For example, its sales data confirms the split between traditional SLI (starter, ignition and lights) and AGM/EFB batteries, which was 64%/36% at the end of 2024, is likely to be 50%/50% by next year. This means keeping the profile of the stock a motor factor holds under constant review, is increasingly important.

This kind of information is important because despite the fact AGM/EFB batteries generally last 30 to 50% longer than an SLI battery, any reduction in quantity of battery replacements is likely to be mitigated by their higher average price, so revenue should remain unchanged.