It is dearer to restore an EV—particularly a Tesla—after a collision, but additionally extra possible that the automobile can nonetheless be pushed whereas ready for repairs, based on a brand new auto injury examine from an organization that gives tech for the auto insurance coverage and collision restore industries.

That agency, Mitchell Worldwide, sifted by second-quarter 2023 trade knowledge, discovering that common restore prices for EVs have 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, based on the examine. Tesla has tried to handle excessive restore prices by increasing its insurance coverage choices (Tesla insurance coverage is offered in 12 states) and opening in-house physique retailers and restore services.

2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E, IIHS

One issue on this was a decrease proportion of components being repaired as an alternative of changed in EVs, at 13.49%, in comparison with 19.20% for internal-combustion autos. These components have been additionally extra prone to come from the unique gear producer (OEM), probably affecting value. EV repairs studied averaged 90.75% OEM components in comparison with 66.50% OEM components 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 will be 40% of the whole labor time for the typical collision restore, Mitchell Worldwide famous, and people hours in flip characterize a big chunk of the ultimate invoice.

On the brilliant aspect, the identical evaluation discovered that EVs have been much less prone to be designated non-drivable than internal-combustion vehicles. In Q2 2023, 10.31% of EVs concerned in collisions have been designated non-drivable, in comparison with 13.11% of internal-combustion autos. Analysts credit score EVs’ lack of shifting components, saying this implies the powertrain is much less prone to be broken in a crash.

2021 Tesla Mannequin Y IIHS crash-testing

Dented fenders and busted bumpers would be the varieties of injury drivers are most definitely to come across, however battery repairs could show to be the costliest 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 injury to a pack would possibly 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 every other essential instruments, will likely be essential to permitting unbiased retailers to restore autos sooner or later, whatever the powertrain.