As electric vehicles become more common, CCC Intelligent Solutions has examined how the collision repair industry will be affected and how it can adapt to the changes.
A survey from French insurer AXA looked at 1,200 EV owners in Belgium and found that they were the cause of 50% more collisions than ICE vehicles. Despite this, only 21% of those surveyed by J.D. Power for its E-Vision Intelligence Report expressed concern about the accessibility of repair centers qualified to work on EVs.
EV damage can result in increased wait times and claims costs. Estimates for EVs have been averaging over 15 more lines on appraisals than their non-EV counterparts due to factors such as parts that are not typically needed for other vehicles. CCC estimates that the cost of parts for EVs is on average 33-50% greater than non-EVs.
Also contributing to higher labor costs are the storing and maintenance requirements for EVs. More time is typically needed to work on these vehicles as well due to a lack of qualified technicians.
With EVs predicted to compromise between 30% to 50% of new car sales globally by 2030, collision repair facilities are encouraged to establish an EV support network and prepare themselves before this change fully takes place.
