Report Reveals EV Collision Repairs Cost 20% More Than Gasoline Models, Despite Similar Total Loss Rates

Repair expenses for electric vehicles are higher by 20% compared to traditional gasoline-powered cars after accidents, as per a recent study by Mitchell International, a company offering technology solutions to the automotive insurance and body shop sectors.

The study, utilizing data from the second quarter of 2024, indicates comparable instances of insurance companies deeming electric vehicles (EVs) and gasoline vehicles from 2021 or later as beyond repair. In the United States, 9.16% of EVs examined were considered too damaged to fix, while the figure for newer gasoline vehicles was slightly higher at 9.45%.

Crash Test for Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and EQA Models

The report indicates that if electric vehicles (EVs) don't face complete destruction, the expense to fix them is almost 20% higher than that for similar fuel-powered cars. In the second quarter in the U.S., the average repair bill for EVs stood at $5,753, in contrast to $4,806 for traditional engine cars. Meanwhile, the repair costs for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles averaged at $4,726 and $5,059, respectively. Mitchell attributes the higher costs for plug-in hybrids to their utilization of bigger battery packs.

The number of insurance claims for electric vehicles rose by 45% in the second quarter, according to the report, a trend that aligns with the growing number of such vehicles on the road and the subsequent likelihood of accidents. Additionally, the report highlights the preference for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts in the repair of these newer EV models, with 89% of the expenditure on parts catering to EVs, as opposed to 65% for traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and the EQA have undergone collision testing.

The study indicates that electric vehicles generally need fewer repairs on their structure, probably due to their heavier build and the battery units which double as support for the frame. Nonetheless, in the second quarter, technicians dedicated a larger portion of their assessment time to electric vehicle repairs compared to traditional gas-powered vehicles, with figures at 8.18% and 5.21% respectively.

The latest study echoes the conclusions of Mitchell's 2023 report, which highlighted that on average, EV repair expenses in the U.S. surpass those of similar gas-powered vehicles by $963. Hertz pointed to steep collision repair bills as the primary cause for decelerating its electric vehicle initiatives, and these costs remain a key element in the higher insurance prices for EVs compared to hybrid vehicles at present.

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