Acceleration causes electric car crashes, broker claims

ELECTRIC car drivers are having more accidents because they are not used to the powerful acceleration, a top insurance broker has claimed.

Carl Shuker, UK and Ireland boss of Howden Group, said data showed EV drivers claim more frequently and for bigger sums than their petrol car peers, a factor that has driven their insurance premiums hundreds of pounds higher.

Experts and car manufacturers have blamed the disparity on a lack of specialist mechanics and the high cost of replacing EV batteries or other components when they are damaged.

But Mr Shuker said the higher claim rate was a result of the EVs’ powerful acceleration, which was catching some drivers used to internal combustion engines off guard. This fast acceleration is down to their batteries generating torque almost instantly.

Mr Shuker said: “There are a couple of things really, but the main one is all of these vehicles are a lot more powerful than standard internal combustion engine vehicles. So we’re seeing a high frequency of claims.” Around 7pc of petrol car drivers end up claiming for accidental damage, he said, compared to about 9pc of EV drivers.

The value of claims made by EV drivers is also typically 35pc higher.

Mr Shuker said this was partly because EVs are packed with so much technology, while their batteries are vulnerable to damage even in minor scrapes. This is significant as batteries often make up half the total value of the car – changing the calculation significantly for insurers when they are considering whether to write them off.

A higher number of write-offs pushes up premiums for all EV drivers.

Mr Shuker said: “It doesn’t take an awful lot to damage the most expensive part of an EV, which is the battery.”

A shortage of trained mechanics in garages and of parts, which are more complex to repair, were also driving up maintenance costs, he said.

Meanwhile, data from insurance broker Howden revealed that the cost of insuring an electric car has increased to twice as much as cover for a petrol one – £1,344 compared to £676. Insurers insist they support the rollout but that prices are “outside of their control”, with data showing EVs are more costly and time-consuming to repair.