It is costlier to restore an EV—particularly a Tesla—after a collision, but in addition extra seemingly that the automobile can nonetheless be pushed whereas ready for repairs, in response to a brand new auto harm research from an organization that gives tech for the auto insurance coverage and collision restore industries.
That agency, Mitchell Worldwide, sifted by way of second-quarter 2023 trade knowledge, discovering that common restore prices for EVs had been $963 increased within the U.S. and $1,328 increased in Canada than for comparable internal-combustion autos.
The information was significantly dangerous for Tesla homeowners. Common collision-repair prices for Teslas was $1,589 increased within the U.S. and $1,600 increased in Canada, in response to the research. Tesla has tried to deal with excessive restore prices by increasing its insurance coverage choices (Tesla insurance coverage is accessible in 12 states) and opening in-house physique outlets and restore amenities.
2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E, IIHS
One issue on this was a decrease share of elements being repaired as a substitute of changed in EVs, at 13.49%, in comparison with 19.20% for internal-combustion autos. These elements had been additionally extra more likely to come from the unique tools producer (OEM), doubtlessly affecting value. EV repairs studied averaged 90.75% OEM elements in comparison with 66.50% OEM elements for internal-combustion vehicles.
EVs additionally averaged extra time within the paint store than internal-combustion vehicles, at 8.51 hours and eight.02 hours, respectively. Labor hours for paint refinishing could be 40% of the whole labor time for the common collision restore, Mitchell Worldwide famous, and people hours in flip symbolize a big chunk of the ultimate invoice.
On the brilliant facet, the identical evaluation discovered that EVs had been much less more likely to be designated non-drivable than internal-combustion vehicles. In Q2 2023, 10.31% of EVs concerned in collisions had been designated non-drivable, in comparison with 13.11% of internal-combustion autos. Analysts credit score EVs’ lack of shifting elements, saying this implies the powertrain is much less more likely to be broken in a crash.
2021 Tesla Mannequin Y IIHS crash-testing
Dented fenders and busted bumpers stands out as the varieties of harm drivers are almost definitely to come across, however battery repairs could show to be the most costly for EV homeowners—and the best distinction from internal-combustion automobile restore. Reuters reported earlier this 12 months that, with battery packs representing as much as 50% of an EV’s price ticket, vital harm to a pack may make a automobile uneconomical to restore.
Repairing each new EVs and internal-combustion autos additionally more and more requires entry to producers’ proprietary software program. Proper to restore guidelines, which assure entry to this software program and another obligatory instruments, will likely be essential to permitting unbiased outlets to restore autos sooner or later, whatever the powertrain.