In principle, I completely agree that it should be the owner, not the
manufacturer, that releases car data to the insurance company, or to
anyone, for that matter. That said, I think it's fair for the
manufacturer to collect anonymous data to be used to improve their
product.
Practically speaking, I'm not sure it makes any difference. For example,
if you are in a collision that potentially damages the battery, the
insurance company might say "This is your assessed value which excludes
$7k for the battery. If you give us battery data, we may be able to add
up to $7k to the value." Who would refuse ?
By the way, how did you get a Zoe in the US ? And, get service for it ?
Peri
<< Annoyed by leaf blowers ? https://quietcleanseattle.org/ >>
------ Original Message ------
From: "EV List Lackey via EV" <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Cc: "EV List Lackey" <[email protected]>
Sent: 20-Mar-23 04:46:56
Subject: [EVDL] EVLN: EV insurers want your battery data
The writer's anti-EV bias is plainly on display in this Reuters piece, but I
think it's worth reading.
Recently we were talking about RTR. Part of that is making vehicle data
available to third parties and owners.
Insurers say that they want that data for EVs so that they can more easily
determine whether the battery in a vehicle that's crashed can be salvaged,
because in some cases a damaged battery means that they'll total the car.
Full article:
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/scratched-ev-battery-
your-insurer-may-have-junk-whole-car-2023-03-20/
or https://v.gd/ZyKb33
Excerpts:
"For many electric vehicles, there is no way to repair or assess even
slightly damaged battery packs after accidents, forcing insurance companies
to write off cars with few miles - leading to higher premiums ...
"While some automakers like Ford Motor Co (F.N) and General Motors Co (GM.N)
said they have made battery packs easier to repair, Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) has
taken the opposite tack with its Texas-built Model Y, whose new structural
battery pack has been described by experts as having 'zero repairability.'
"Allianz has seen scratched battery packs where the cells inside are likely
undamaged, but without diagnostic data it has to write off those vehicles.
Ford and GM tout their newer, more repairable packs. But the new, large 4680
cells in the Model Y made at Tesla's Austin, Texas, plant, are glued into a
pack that forms part of the car's structure and cannot be easily removed or
replaced, experts said.
"Recently adopted EU battery regulations do not specifically address battery
repairs, but they did ask the European Commission to encourage standards to
'facilitate maintenance, repair and repurposing,' a commission source said."
-----
For me, this article raises some questions.
1. I suspect that the insurance companies want that vehicle data for a lot
more than battery evaluation - and I don't think that I want them to have it
all. We need legislation that not only opens up the data, but also puts it
under the full control of vehicle owners. WE, not the vehicle
manufacturers, should be the ones to release our EVs' battery data to
insurers.
2. The piece briefly mentions independent battery repair shops, but rather
glosses them over This could be an outstanding business opportunity. EV
battery refurbishers might be the bumper rechroming shops of the 2020s. :-\
3. Why wasn't - and apparently isn't - battery repairability considered
right from the start in production EV design? (Rhetorical question, I
guess.)
4. I'm not convinced that the situation is everywhere quite as bad as they
portray it, though there's certainly room for improvement. Our Renault Zoe
was rear-ended in late autumn. The body shop had to get the battery
independently inspected for safety - they said that this was a legal
requirement. It took literally months, but the battery eventually passed
inspection. Is officially-approved EV battery inspection service just not
available at all in the US, the UK, and Germany? Or is the problem the time
and labor that's required?
What do y'all think of this?
David Roden, EVDL moderator & general lackey
To reach me, don't reply to this message; I won't get it. Use my
offlist address here : http://evdl.org/help/index.html#supt
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What has allowed so many psychopathic personalities to rise
so high in corporations, and now in government, is that they
are so decisive. Unlike normal people, they are never filled
with doubts, for the simple reason that they cannot care what
happens next.
-- Kurt Vonnegut
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