Thatcham Unveils EV Repair Blueprint to Cut 30% Cost Gap and Insurance Premiums
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 8
Thatcham Unveils EV Repair Blueprint to Cut 30% Cost Gap and Insurance Premiums
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 8
Summary
Thatcham Research says a new manufacturer blueprint aims to make EVs easier to repair and reduce insurance costs, after finding the newest models now cost 18% more to fix than combustion cars.
A 6mph crash test on a Dacia Spring showed why bills escalate: damage to an integrated front charging unit could trigger about £4,000 in repairs and likely make the car uneconomic to fix.
Thatcham says EVs still cost 30% more to repair on average, take 14% longer in workshops and can cost 10-25% more to insure because glued-together systems and battery pack designs force whole-unit replacements.
Battery replacement is a key write-off risk because the pack can account for about 40% of a car's value, while parts shortages and a lack of trained technicians keep vehicles off the road longer.
The push comes as EVs reached nearly one in three new UK car sales in June, making lower repair and insurance costs increasingly important for wider adoption.