A European study has found that electric vehicles (EVs) have 4% more at-fault insurance claims for collisions compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. 

The study from the University of Limerick in Ireland and University of Barcelona in Spain analyzed telematics data of 14,642 vehicles in the Netherlands. It combined the data with accident claims data. 

“Our analysis of each fuel type shows that EVs and HYBs [hybrids] have lower average mileages than ICE,” the study says. “In isolation, the lower recorded mileages in EVs and HYBs and their driver profiles suggest that ICEs should have a higher probability of incurring an at-fault claim than alternate energy fuel-type vehicles. However, the claims data contrasts this assumption by providing evidence of increased at-fault claim occurrences in EVs through predictive modeling and risk analysis.”

It found that EV and hybrid drivers exhibited different behaviors than traditional vehicles. However, hybrid drivers did not display a statistically significant increase in claim likelihood. 

The study also looked at first-party damage costs and found more than one-third of EVs and HYBs incurred damage of more than 1,000 euro when involved in an accident. 

“Combining these financial burdens with our risk analysis and emerging fire risks of lithium-ion batteries indicates that EVs and HYBs contribute significant risk to their owners, policymakers and businesses,” the study said. “Without intervention from the aforementioned stakeholders and manufacturers, EV and HYB drivers will experience a higher likelihood of at-fault claims and substantial first-party damages compared with traditional ICE vehicles. This increase in driver risk will create a barrier to alternate fuel vehicle adoption, rendering previous efforts ineffective.”

LexisNexis also recently told Green Card Reports a broad analysis of insurance industry points to high-output EVs with instant torque and strong quick acceleration possibly increasing insurance costs for EVs. 

“Our data has also shown that the extra torque delivered by the powerful EV motors (is) positively correlated with their loss cost,” said Xiaohui Lu, LexisNexis vice president of global business development, to Green Car Reports. 

Green Car Reports says this is specifically with EVs that have more than 300 lb-ft of torque. It says this increases with EV curb weight. 

“The data set itself isn’t enough to say whether having so much output and acceleration on tap emboldens drivers and leads to more aggressive driving behaviors, or whether there is anything inherently less safe about high-power EVs,” the article says. 

There could be many reasons why high-torque vehicles increases rates, according to Green Car Reports. 

“While torque contributes to the higher insurance loss cost of electric vehicles, it is important not to view these numbers solely through the lens of torque,” Lu told Green Car Reports. “For instance, higher torque vehicles often have higher prices, more expensive repair costs, and sometimes even higher daily mileages, all of which are also linked to increased insurance loss costs.”

Lu also told Green Car Reports that there is a learning curve for drivers newly switching from ICE vehicles to EVs.

IMAGES

Photo courtesy of piranka/iStock