EV Crash Repairs – What Owners Need To Know

November 8, 2022

In Australia, more buyers are opting for electric cars in order to be more considerate of the planet we all share. How do Eblen Collision Repairs support your decision to be environmentally friendly? Read below for everything you need to know about EV crash repairs.

Electric cars in the Australian market.

Electric cars now represent 3.39% of all new car sales in Australia, including up to September 2022, 26,356 EVs were sold in Australia – a 65% increase from EV’s market share of 2% in 2021, according to the Electric Vehicle Council’s State of EVs report.

It’s likely that people’s primary motivation for switching to an electric vehicle (EV) or high-voltage vehicle over an internal combustion engine (ICE) car that runs on petrol or diesel is to lessen air pollution and benefit the planet in which we live.

Australian consumers currently have 45 different options for electric vehicles, with 8,647 units sold, the Tesla Model 3 was the best-selling EV in Australia, followed by the Tesla Model Y with 5,376 units. These were closely followed in sales by the MG HS PHEV (1,185), Lexus NX450H PHEV (1,177), and Hyundai Kona EV (897).

Sentiment around EVs is also looking good, 82% of consumers value public fast charging and 68% of consumers want greater public charging infrastructure and government subsidies for EVs. Consumers grow more knowledgeable and confident about making the conversion to EVs as more information becomes available, public charging infrastructure is expanded, and common misunderstandings are debunked.

As more electric cars fill the road, there will be a greater need for EV crash repairs. Collision repair businesses need to learn about EVs and acquire new expertise in fixing electric vehicles.

What’s the difference between EV collision repairs and collision repairs to an ICE vehicle?

While EVs typically require less maintenance than ICE vehicles since they have fewer intricate mechanical working parts, they can present certain special difficulties in large part, to the high voltage battery systems the use of more complex, lightweight materials, and the need for additional repair time.

One example is diagnostic scanning, EVs produced an average of 13 fault codes per scan while ICE cars produced an average of 9. these additional fault codes take longer to remedy.

Another main difference in design between electric and ICE-powered vehicles is their lighter weight. The average kerb weight of an EV is about 200 kilogrammes higher than that of an ICE vehicle. The use of these lightweight materials such as aluminium, composites, high-strength steel or carbon fibre increases the difficulty, costs and takes longer to complete.

The average repair time for an EV is 10.7 days while for ICE cars, it’s 9.5 days. As you can see from these statistics, things are quite a bit more complex when dealing with repairs on an electric vehicle.

Another consideration is towing, electric cars require a flatbed. Towing them on their own wheels might cause further damage to the car’s electrical system.

Things to look for in an electric vehicle crash repairer.

Good Reputation

Trust professionals with your needs for bodywork on electric vehicles. You can typically get a sense of the quality of the services they offer from their online reputation. Customer testimonials describe their interactions with an auto shop. Find another one with a higher rating if the majority of the ratings are below four stars.

Certifications

Certifications prove an auto repair shop can handle quality electric vehicle repair. Certification shows that the mechanic passed the required exam and has at least two years of experience. Look for the Automotive Service Excellence certificate when choosing an EV crash repair shop.

Customer service

How collision repair shops handle inquiries about their services demonstrates how much they value both new and returning customers. Their consideration and thorough explanations are good signs that your money will be well spent.