Electric vehicle repair costs (for non-fault accidents) were 19% higher than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and spent 9% longer in the workshop, according to the AX Repair Index which drew on data from over 40,000 accidents handled annually.
Analysis of repairs completed during the last 12 months found that EV repairs cost an average of £6,363 compared with £5,338 for ICE vehicles, while repair durations averaged 25 days for EVs and 23 days for ICE vehicles.
Scott Hamilton-Cooper, chief commercial officer of AX, said: “While the gap between EV and ICE repairs is narrowing as repairers gain experience and technology improves, our AX Repair Index shows that electric vehicles still place a greater overall burden on the repair process. This is partly due to more costly EV parts and because they usually require calibration even for small repairs.
“What’s important is that the industry continues investing in skills, equipment and repair capability. We have worked closely with our partners and 99% of our repair network is now accredited to work on electric vehicles, ensuring drivers receive the same high standards of service regardless of powertrain type.
“We support the move to a predominantly EV car parc and our EV-for-EV guarantee has been hugely popular. As EV adoption grows, delivering a smooth customer journey will be essential for fleets, insurers and motorists alike.”
The repair burden places a greater repair strain on the UK accident repair sector which results in increased costs for UK motorists and insurers.
The index uses ICE vehicles as a baseline score of 100 and measures the relative repair burden created by repair costs and repair duration. EVs achieved an AX Repair Index score of 114.
