Is Your Repaired EV Safe? Real Insurance Scams & Accident Truths Exposed

Buying an EV is surely an innovative step towards advanced mobility, but what if your EV is damaged and insurance companies don't support you? We will be highlighting a real-life story of a premium electric SUV owner that revealed the dark truth of the insurance ecosystem. 

This case follows the accident of an XEV 9e electric SUV, that fell into a ditch, and how insurance companies instead of supporting at this time, just ran away with it. A systematic failure that every EV owner should be aware of. 

Repaired EV Safety Concerns

This case just showcased the reality of insurance companies where they calculated the recovery of EV accidents by cost-saving, and not safety. In this case, despite the workshop which estimated the damages of XEV 9e at Rs 50 Lakhs (Critical Battery & Motor damages ) and recommended a “Total Loss”. 

However, the insurance surveyor intervened and misunderstood the car model on official documents and restricted the total repair estimates to Rs 10-15 Lakhs, but the insurer decided not to pay the full Insured Declared Value (IDV). Their goal was to keep the costs below the 75% that leads to a total loss, irrespective of the vehicle’s structural rigidity. 

Is your repaired EV safe?

When the car was finally returned to the owner after several months, their “new condition” was just a lie in order to escape paying a huge amount for a new car. The vehicle was having high-voltage wiring issues, malfunctioning in sensors, and uneven paint quality. 

Even worse was the total repair cost which reached to Rs 18 lakhs, an amount if honestly declared upfront, could have provided the owner with a new car. Instead, the consumer had to bear this financial loss and had to live with this dangerous vehicle full of technical glitches. 

Safety Tips after repair

Here are some tips to be secured from these insurance scams:

• Demand EV Specialists: Always ensure that your surveyor has good EV knowledge and is certified for electric vehicles. 
• Verify Clauses: Check your Policy’s “Total Loss” percentage and also specify other damages like battery/water ingress coverage. 
• Get in Writing: Never have faith in verbal assurances. Always vouch for written estimates and post-repair safety verifications before accepting the vehicle. 

Always stay educated as EVs are continually evolving and your best safety protection is situational awareness related to your product.