Mathias Dalheimer likes to bake waffles at charging stations for electric cars. A device developed by him tricks loader, an electric vehicle is connected- industrial engineer only has a waffle iron docked. A few minutes later it smells of crispy pasta. The creative use fits situation: more and more charging stations are being set up, but so far re are hardly any electric vehicles that would have to be loaded. There is often a connection free. The suspicion of motorists is great: is it worth buying an electric car? How long does battery last? Are repairs more expensive than diesel or gasoline?
However, insurers have little problems with new cars. The risk can be modeled over existing type classes, says Joachim Müller, head of Allianz Versicherungs-AG and member of board of Allianz Deutschland. “This does not make insurance more expensive than that of conventional vehicles.” Insurers grade cars according to damage risk that affects insurance premium.
Currently y calculate with falling accident figures. “It is becoming more and more rare for electric vehicles to be damaged,” says Jürgen Bona, head of automotive engineering at Association of German Insurance industry (GDV). So far, drivers are rar leisurely on road-out of concern, battery could get limp-refore less happens. This may change if vehicles are able to travel furr distances.
Allianz also expects less damage. E-vehicles would be a quarter less involved in accidents. However, repair costs a whopping 25 percent more than in cars with an internal combustion engine. According to Allianz, this is due to fact that only specialized workshops can repair wagons, where defective cars have to be transported re.
if (typeof AdController !== ‘undefined’) { AdController.render(‘iqadtile4’); } if (typeof window.performance === ‘object’ && typeof window.performance.mark === ‘function’) { window.performance.mark(‘monitor_iqadtile4_render’); } if (typeof SDE.init.initIQAdTile !== ‘undefined’) { SDE.init.initIQAdTile(‘full’, ‘iqadtile4’, false); } A battery costs about 10 000 euros. If damaged, car is a total damage
On or hand, it is problematic that car manufacturers are installing expensive technology at places in vehicle that are damaged in event of accidents. The charging socket is poorly placed on front of car, says Allianz CEO Müller. “What appears to be practical at first glance is expensive in repair of retraction or instigation accidents.” The battery must also be installed in such a way that it does not have to be exchanged for small accidents.
The Alliance offers new customers with electric or hybrid vehicles from October 20 percent premium discount, so far it is ten percent. The HUK-Coburg also gives a discount. “Ecological driving is to be rewarded,” says Daniel John, chief mamatician in Coburg. “We offer electric vehicles up to 15 percent discount, because ecologically oriented drivers are actually also more cautious on road.” The Coburgs currently insure about 3500 pure electric vehicles, hybrid models not included.
Difficulties are causing insurers heart of power-driven cars: battery. According to Allianz, a lithium-ion battery, which can drive a mid-range vehicle 300 kilometers, costs around 10 000 euros. In addition, current stores bring a few hundred kilograms to scale, it can be 30 percent of vehicle weight. “The battery in electric car is still neuland for us,” says Allianz CEO Müller. In case of damage, battery condition is often decisive. “If battery is affected by an accident, it will be expensive” says GDV-car expert honest. “Then vehicle usually has a total damage.” Insurers are hard at assessing condition of storage unit. “We need to know residual value of battery after an accident,” he says. “For this we need data of car manufacturers.” This is what alliance sees as well. “It must be possible to determine status quo of battery on basis of vehicle and usage data,” said Allianz-Mann Müller.
Still time vehicles with electric drive a niche existence. According to figures of GDV, at end of 2016 in Germany, nearly 20 000 electric vehicles were insured-a fraction of total 63 million vehicles. E-Cars are expensive to buy, many motorists are too low to reach distance between two loading operations. Moreover, not every petrol station has a charging facility, and charging takes place even at fast charging stations between 20 minutes and an hour-at a household outlet it is more than ten hours. But technology is getting better. In long run, re is no way around electric drive. The insurers have to deal with e-vehicles.
