# EV batteries remain major challenge for insurers – UK’s Thatcham
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2023-07-05
Category: Uncategorized
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/uncategorized
Meta Title: Insurers Struggle with EV Battery Challenges - Thatcham
Meta Description: Thatcham Research highlights concerns over repair solutions and diagnostics for EV batteries, posing risks to insurers and hindering EV adoption in the UK.
URL: https://financedigest.com/ev-batteries-remain-major-challenge-for-insurers-uks-thatchamhtml

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LONDON (Reuters) – A lack of data on electric vehicle (EV) batteries continues to challenge insurers who are forced to scrap EVs after mild accidents, potentially undermining EV adoption, Thatcham Research said on Wednesday.

The British automotive risk intelligence company cited a “concerning lack of affordable or available repair solutions and post-accident diagnostics” in a report entitled “Impact of BEV Adoption on the Repair and Insurance Sectors” the UK Government’s innovation agency Innovate UK funded to examine differences between EVs and fossil-fuel models.

[Insurers](https://www.financedigest.com/different-countries-different-insurance-cultures-how-insurers-can-adapt-their-products.html "Insurers") have complained that many EVs have no way to repair or assess even slightly damaged battery packs after accidents, forcing them to write off cars with low mileage – leading to higher premiums and undercutting gains from going electric.

Batteries can make up half of an EV’s cost and Thatcham found a replacement [battery](https://www.financedigest.com/unicredit-appoints-new-head-of-digital-to-replace-jingle-after-two-years.html "UniCredit appoints new head of digital to replace Jingle after two years") can cost more than the used price of the vehicle after only one year, making replacing them uneconomical.

Adrian Watson, Thatcham’s head of engineering research, said in an ideal world insurers could make informed decisions about whether to repair [EVs](https://www.financedigest.com/general-health-insurance-help-aviva-to-h1-profit-beat.html "General, health insurance help Aviva to H1 profit beat") or write it off based on access to data on its state of health after an accident.

“The reality is that’s not the situation we’re in at the moment,” he told Reuters. “The diagnostics we have do not enable you to really know what the status of the battery is.”

Only around 1.65% of cars on Britain’s roads are electric, but Thatcham said EV-related insurance claims are already 25.5% more expensive than for fossil-fuel equivalents and take 14% longer to repair.

Due to their potential fire risk, damaged EVs awaiting repair must be stored outside at least 15 metres (49 ft) from other objects.

An outside facility for 100 fossil-fuel cars today would have space to safely quarantine just two EVs, Thatcham said.

(Reporting By Nick Carey; Editing by Josie Kao)


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