Insurers Junk Electric Cars Over Minor Battery Damage

Insurers are writing off entire electric vehicles (EVs) due to the lack of repairability of battery packs after even minor collisions, leading to higher premiums for consumers and a growing pile-up of EV batteries in scrapyards. EV batteries can cost tens of thousands of dollars and represent up to 50% of an EV's price tag, making replacement uneconomical. The inability to repair EV batteries is creating a sustainability problem, as scrapping EVs before they reach the mileage required to offset their extra emissions has a greater environmental impact than fossil-fuel models. Car manufacturers argue their battery packs are repairable, but many repair shops, insurers, and leasing companies are not aware of the data.