Electric vehicles (EVs) involved in collisions are taking longer and costing more to repair than their petrol or diesel counterparts, according to a new analysis by AX. The study found that EV repair costs for non-fault incidents were 19% higher than for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, with EVs also spending 9% longer in the workshop.
Cost and Duration Differences
Analysis of repairs completed over the past 12 months revealed that EV repairs cost an average of £6,363, compared to £5,338 for petrol and diesel vehicles. Repair durations averaged 25 days for EVs, while traditional vehicles required 23 days.
Scott Hamilton-Cooper, chief commercial officer at AX, said: “The growth of electric vehicles is creating new opportunities and challenges for the accident repair sector. 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.”
Impact of Fuel Prices on EV Consideration
The findings come as new RAC research shows that three in 10 drivers say they are more likely to consider an electric vehicle next time around as a direct result of high fuel prices brought about by the Iran conflict. Although pump prices have reduced in recent weeks, they remain far above pre-war levels. The average cost of filling a petrol family car is still £13 higher than in late February, while an equivalent diesel car costs £20 more.
Financial Pressure on Drivers
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “This year is proving to be a record year for EV registrations, and our latest figures show the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is steering ever more drivers towards one next time they change. After all, having a vehicle that doesn’t run on petrol or diesel can make a lot of financial sense, especially for those who can charge up cheaply at home. But there’s no getting away from the fact the Iran war is casting a growing shadow over the millions of households who rely on petrol and diesel cars.”
Dennis added: “So many drivers tell us they’re having to cut back on other spending just to afford to keep their cars running – which is further confirmation, as if it was needed, of just how car-dependent we are as a nation. Younger drivers are unfortunately feeling the pain more than any other age group, with a third cutting back on other spending significantly so they can afford to fill up their cars, and around a quarter using their cars less to save money. And it’s important to remember that every pound spent on fuel is a pound not being spent somewhere else – such as the local high street. So high fuel prices are bad news not just for households, but for the wider economy too.”
Outlook for Fuel Costs
“The cost of filling up might be falling at the moment, but with no resolution to the Iran war in sight, oil prices remain elevated which is keeping pump prices at a far higher level now than they were in February. And there’s a further sting in the tail coming – high fuel and energy costs mean inflation is expected to increase later this year, putting yet more pressure on the wallet,” Dennis concluded.
