# High Costs of EV Battery Damage: A Reality Check
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Chapter 1: The Shocking Truth About EV Battery Damage
If your electric vehicle's battery sustains damage, it could potentially lead to the vehicle being classified as totaled. This isn’t just a far-fetched idea; it’s a genuine concern. According to a report from Reuters, even a minor collision could render your costly electric vehicle a total loss due to the high cost of repairs compared to the vehicle's overall value.
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Section 1.1: The Reality of Repair Costs
For many electric vehicles, assessing or repairing even slightly impaired battery packs after an accident isn’t feasible.
Now, let’s clarify: this isn’t meant to disparage electric vehicles. In fact, I genuinely appreciate the concept behind them. While I may not identify as an environmentalist, I support efforts to reduce pollution and improve air quality. However, the situation surrounding EV battery damage is quite concerning.
The price for a Tesla Model 3 hovers around $42,990, and if you’re considering the Performance option, it jumps to about $53,990. That’s a significant investment. Given the advanced technology and premium features of such vehicles, many would argue that the price is justified.
Nonetheless, like all batteries, the one in these high-end electric cars will eventually deteriorate. This degradation is similar to what happens with batteries in phones, laptops, and other rechargeable devices. Over time, you can expect the battery to hold less charge than when it was new.
At that point, you might think replacing the battery is straightforward. But it’s not that simple—especially if you’re not prepared to spend thousands of dollars.
If an accident damages the battery, your insurance provider might determine that the cost of replacement is not worth it, leading to your vehicle being deemed a total loss. This is baffling, don’t you think?
Section 1.2: The Wasteful Consequences
This scenario illustrates a significant waste of resources.
The video titled What happens if you crash an EV? No idea, says car industry highlights these alarming realities and the industry's lack of preparedness for such incidents.
Chapter 2: The Importance of the Right to Repair
What can be done to prevent such waste? The issue at hand is that the batteries in electric vehicles—at least those I've encountered—are not designed for repair. If any segment of the battery is compromised, the entire unit must be replaced. It's not just a matter of swapping out the damaged part, and these battery replacements can exceed $15,000, depending on the model and installer.
Imagine if these costly batteries were modular. What if we could simply replace the damaged section rather than the whole unit? This approach could significantly enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
This underscores the necessity of the Right to Repair movement.
The video You Just Had An Accident In Your EV. Are You Prepared For What's Next? discusses the implications of these challenges and the need for better solutions in the EV industry.