EVs Head for Junkyard as Mechanic Shortage Inflates Repair Costs
Insurers are totaling battery-powered cars with minimal damage because fixing them doesn’t add up.
An AA patrol for electric vehicles in Birmingham, England.
Photographer: Jose Sarmento Matos/BloombergElectric car sales already are in a funk in key markets around the globe. Challenges finding enough repair technicians threatens to further stifle demand in the UK, where consumer uptake has stagnated for the better part of two years.
A dearth of mechanics trained to handle the most advanced EV fixes is helping to drive up repair costs, according to insurers and repair companies like the AA, which provides roadside assistance across the UK. Add in expenses like long wait times for replacement parts, and underwriters are opting to total cars with relatively benign damage — prematurely consigning electric models to the junk heap.