Powerful electric vehicles, particularly all-wheel drive and multi-motor versions, can be closely linked to persistently high electric vehicle insurance costs.
Specifically, EVs with over 300 lb-ft of torqueespecially those with a high torque-to-weight ratio, correspond to highest insurance loss costLexisNexis released to Green Car Reportsbased on its analysis of insurance claims across electric vehicle brands and insurers.
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However, the data set itself isn’t enough to say whether more power and faster acceleration lead to more aggressive behavior (and accidents) or whether another factor makes faster electric vehicles less safe.
Electric vehicles are often praised for their “instant torque” and rapid acceleration, something at least one auto industry executive has said. praised as a safety feature.
While a smaller proportion of gasoline models produce more than 300 lb-ft of torque, the higher level of risk does not appear to extend to electric vehicles in the same way.
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Correlation also does not imply causation. In fact, there are several other factors besides torque that could contribute to the high insurance costs of these EVs — such as single-pedal driving modes.
“While torque contributes to the largest cost of EV insurance losses, it’s important not to view these numbers solely through the lens of torque,” Xiaohui Lu, vice president of global business development at LexisNexis, told Green Car Reports, pointing to EV repair costs as an example.
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Lu also emphasized that the dataset shows that some EVs offer lower loss rates and there are many safe EV drivers. But this is offset by higher costs when EVs are in accidents and more expensive collision repairs related to Increased weight of electric vehicles, in addition to increased battery replacement costs.
Enthusiast owners of niche performance vehicles may be accustomed to expensive insurance as an unavoidable trade-off. But for the Tesla Model 3 or Hyundai Ioniq 5 or others considered normal vehicles, is another question.