EV Repair Costs Unveiled

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【Summary】Summary: The increasing number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road has led to concerns about expensive repairs. Minor damage to EV battery casings can lead to insurance write-offs due to fears of safety risks, even though fires are rare. Additionally, there is a lack of repair shops knowledgeable about assessing and fixing EV batteries. Some manufacturers make repairs difficult by not providing repair information or making parts hard to obtain, resulting in high replacement costs.

FutureCar Staff Nov 19, 2023 10:15 PM PT

In June this year, a Hyundai Kona arrived at a repair shop in Cheltenham, England. Despite appearing to be in good working condition, the insurance company refused to sign it off due to damage to its battery casing caused by a minor collision. Another repair shop was unable to replace the casing, so the car ended up at Cleevely Motors in Cheltenham. When the vehicle was opened up, it was discovered that the damage was minimal, with only a few light scratches on the metal casing. Despite this, the casing was replaced as requested by the insurance company, costing £600 ($745), plus tax.

The number of electric cars on the road in the UK has more than doubled in the past three years, reaching around 850,000, according to estimates from the RAC. Similarly, in the US, it is projected that over 1 million electric vehicles will be sold this year, potentially setting a record. With the increasing number of electric cars, there is a growing concern about damaged batteries and their potential impact on vehicle safety. While there is a fear that dented batteries could lead to electric shocks, fires, or explosions, such incidents are actually rare and less common than in traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

Some insurers are going as far as writing off entire electric cars due to minor damage to battery casings. Sources suggest that there is a shortage of auto repair shops equipped to properly assess and repair batteries. This lack of knowledge and understanding about electric vehicles has led to unnecessary fear and misconceptions within the industry. Additionally, manufacturers often make it difficult for mechanics to repair EVs by not providing sufficient information or access to parts. As a result, some battery units may need to be replaced at a significant cost, exceeding £10,000 ($12,430) for certain models.