Lower write-off EV rates need flagging to help boost adoption

Data expert Cap HPI reveals that electric vehicles (EVs) are written off at less than half the rate of petrol and diesel cars.

The study, which analysed data over the last nine years, found that only 0.9% of EVs under five years old have been written off, compared to 1.89% of petrol and diesel vehicles in the same age group.

At the one-year mark, the gap remains consistent, with 0.2% of EVs being written off compared to 0.4% of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

Jon Clay (pictured), identification director at Cap HPI, highlighted how the findings debunk common myths surrounding electric vehicles.

“The study challenges one of the many misconceptions about electric vehicles. The data shows that EVs are written off at half the rate of petrol and diesel vehicles.”

“The motor industry has to collectively address the wave of misinformation around EVs that is present online to enable consumers and fleet customers to make informed and well-balanced decisions about their next vehicle.”

The study also revealed that there are 1.25 million fully electric vehicles under five years old on UK roads, with 355,000 under one year old.

As battery electric vehicle (BEV) adoption grows, industry data shows that BEV registrations rose by 10.8% in August compared to the previous year, accounting for 22.6% of all new vehicle registrations.

In response to growing concerns about EV misinformation, Richard Bruce, director of transport decarbonisation at the Department for Transport, stressed the importance of dispelling myths around electric cars.

"I do think there has been an impact from a concerted campaign of misinformation over the last 14 months or so that has been pushing consistent myths about EVs,” he noted. “There is an anti-EV story in the papers almost every day, most of which are based on misconceptions and mistruths."