EVs can be totalled if batteries get even slightly damaged

Structural battery pack have been described by experts as having "zero repairability",

According to media reports, there is no way to repair or assess a slightly damaged battery pack of an electric vehicle after an accident. This has forced insurance companies to write off cars even with few miles.

Matthew Avery, Research Director at Thatcham Research - an automotive risk intelligence company, stated that if users are forced to throw away the battery after a minor accident, it doesn't make EVs sustainable. Companies like Tesla which use a structural battery pack have been described by experts as having "zero repairability", although it does help bring down the vehicle's production costs.

Reports state that although EVs make up only a fraction of vehicles on the road, the trend of low-mileage EVs being written off with minor damages is growing.

Also, while many carmakers have stated their battery packs are repairable, few are willing to share access to the battery data. This causes a problem for insurers, who are writing off the entire vehicle for having scratched battery packs where the cells inside are likely undamaged - since they do not have access to diagnostic data.

Source: Reuters