EVs Crash Less Frequently But Cost More To Repair - German Study

National carmaker Proton’s upcoming first electric vehicle (EV), the Proton e.MAS 7.

According to a number of recent reports, electric cars are less likely to be in collisions than their petrol and diesel counterparts, but they also cost a lot more to repair when they are damaged.

Studies suggested that battery-powered cars are marginally safer than internal combustion engine cars, but when they do crash, repairs are more expensive in terms of labor and parts, and the likelihood of an insurer writing them off is higher. The German Insurance Association, or GDV, examined the frequency and expense of claims over a three-year period by comparing 37 pairs of comparable fuel-powered and electric vehicles.

According to the findings, electric vehicles cause five to ten percent fewer accidents than comparable vehicles powered by internal combustion engines (ICE). EVs outperform their ICE counterparts even more in terms of comprehensive insurance claims, with a 20% lower incident frequency.

However, GDV found that the largest insurance claim discrepancy between EV and ICE vehicles relates to the cost of EV crash repairs, with average EV repairs costing between 30 and 35 percent more than comparable ICE vehicle repairs.

There are four reasons for this. It is technically difficult and expensive to replace battery packs after a collision, and it is frequently not feasible to fix the battery casing or find and replace individual damaged battery cells. The availability of replacement batteries raises the cost of a new car and contributes to longer repair times for EVs than for ICE vehicles. Batteries-electric vehicles require 14% more time to repair, according to a report released last year by Thatcham Research, a non-profit automotive risk intelligence organization in the UK. Finally, the GDV discovered that higher labor costs are driving up repair costs due to a lack of technicians qualified to work on electric vehicles.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, through 2031, there will be a need for about 80,000 electrician jobs per year, including those for technicians to fix EVs and install EV chargers.

In Malaysia, a shortage of technicians and independent repair shops qualified to repair electric vehicles (EV) could jeopardize upcoming deadlines to reduce vehicle carbon emissions. Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul, Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, believes that addressing this issue is critical if Malaysia is to keep up with the rapidly expanding regional electric vehicle market.