LONDON, July 5 (Reuters) - A lack of data on electric vehicle (EV) batteries continues to challenge insurers who are forced to scrap EVs after mild accidents, potentially undermining EV adoption, Thatcham Research said on Wednesday.
Adrian Watson, Thatcham's head of engineering research, said in an ideal world insurers could make informed decisions about whether to repair EVs or write it off based on access to data on its state of health after an accident.
"The diagnostics we have do not enable you to really know what the status of the battery is."
Due to their potential fire risk, damaged EVs awaiting repair must be stored outside at least 15 metres (49 ft) from other objects.
An outside facility for 100 fossil-fuel cars today would have space to safely quarantine just two EVs, Thatcham said.
Persons:
BEV, Thatcham, Adrian Watson, Thatcham's, Nick Carey, Josie Kao
Organizations:
Reuters, Thomson