Electric vehicle paint repairs can cause fires or explosions, warn insurers

The damage can be created when the vehicle’s panels are cured after being repaired and resprayed. This is traditionally carried out in high temperature paint booths that reach over 50 degrees Celsius.

While this is no problem for petrol or diesel vehicles, it can have a significant impact on EVs, the insurance company is warning.

Dan Wilkins, AXA UK Commercial property technical risk manager, said that exposing an EV battery to high temperatures can cause lasting damage and the high voltage components on the vehicle can short, causing them to catch fire or explode.

He added: “It’s crucial that repairers are aware of the dangers of using standard paint curing cycles for EVs and make adjustments according to the manufacturers’ recommendations.

“Many garages may not currently be equipped to handle EV repairs as this requires technicians to undergo specific training.

“However, even repairing a dent in a panel on an EV requires expertise to ensure the vehicle is handled correctly and isn’t inadvertently damaged or catches fire during the curing process.”

To help tackle this issue, AXA UK Commercial has created safety risk guidance for EV paint repairs. 

Actions that can be taken include using low temperature or fast-drying paints that need minimal heat exposure or curing with short wave electric IR systems that concentrate heat precisely on panels.

The company is also advising EV operators to follow the original equipment manufacturer’s instructions and use real-time dedicated temperature sensors that continuously monitor critical components including the battery and high-voltage systems.