New Study Reveals Higher At-Fault Crash Rates for EV Drivers in Europe

Research indicates that in Europe, those behind the wheel of electric vehicles are more prone to causing accidents compared to individuals driving petrol or diesel automobiles.

Initially reported by Green Car Congress, the investigation was carried out by Lero, an Irish research group, alongside the University of Limerick. The study analyzed telematic information from over 125 million journeys made by commercial fleet vehicles, encompassing a total of 14,642 vehicles in the Netherlands, during the timeframe from January 2022 to October 2022. This travel information was then cross-referenced with data from insurance claims recorded within the identical timeframe.

Citroën's Electric Spacetourer Model

Researchers analyzed the data and discovered that drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) were 4% more likely to be responsible for insurance claims than those driving traditional gasoline or diesel cars. This was the case even though EVs typically have less mileage on average, according to the study.

Studies have indicated that the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) might influence driving patterns, potentially leading to an increase in accidents for which the driver is responsible. According to U.S. insurance statistics from LexisNexis, adapting to the unique features of EVs, such as the one-pedal driving technique and immediate torque delivery, could result in a higher likelihood of collisions. The company's findings published in June also revealed that claims related to EVs were 17% more frequent and the claims were 34% more severe.

Citroën's Electric C4 Model

The study revealed that the cost to fix electric vehicles is 6.7% higher than the cost for vehicles with internal combustion engines. This finding is consistent with data from the United States. Earlier in the year, Mitchell International, a technology provider for the insurance and collision repair sectors, released a report indicating that repair costs for electric vehicles after a collision are 20% higher compared to similar repairs on vehicles with traditional engines.

Data from U.S. insurers indicates that the increased complexity of repairing minor damages on electric vehicles (EVs) contributes to their elevated insurance expenses. The added weight of EVs also plays a role in exacerbating the severity of damage inflicted on other cars, leading to higher claims when the EV operator is liable. Coupled with the steep price of replacing batteries, insuring EVs becomes more expensive, yet it remains a challenging area for insurers to profit from.

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