A House of Lords Committee in the UK has published something of a damming report on the current state of the electric car industry in the UK and how change is needed if government targets on getting rid of diesel and petrol cars are to be met. 

The authors say a ‘rapid recharge’ is needed with several key issues needing to be addressed. Top of the list is poor charging infrastructure, followed by higher EV prices and a lack of clear and definitive information, allowing drivers to make informed decisions about future vehicle purchases.

Although you had to delve a little deeper to find it, the report also made the point that, “When involved in the repair of a crash-damaged EV, high voltage batteries bring significant additional cost into the insurance workflow.” As such the report proposes, “The introduction of a cross-industry battery health testing standard, to provide clarity around the condition of an old or damaged battery.”

In response to the report, Thatcham Research is renewing calls for the automotive and insurance sectors to work collaboratively to reduce the cost of battery repair or replacement. It says this can be achieved not only through an enhanced understanding of damaged EV batteries, but also the introduction of appropriate repair methods, affordable recertification schemes, and end-of-life management and recycling, to recognise the considerable value tied up in high voltage batteries.

Thatcham Research supports the introduction of battery diagnosis standardisation and will continue to follow this topic with interest. It also emphasises that these challenges are not insurmountable, and a sustainable ecosystem can be created for EVs.