BEVs 22pc cheaper to service than ICE cars, report says

A new servicing and maintenance report from the UK claims that it is much cheaper to service a battery electric vehicle than a car with an internal combustion engine.

According to 2022 data from supply chain management firm Fleet Assist, the average transaction value of a BEV service is currently approximately 22 per cent less than an equivalent ICE car.

It says that much of this can be put down to reduced labour times which are currently 33 per cent shorter for BEVs than ICE cars.

According to the report, the parts component of an BEV job is also typically 28 per cent cheaper than an ICE car due to them having fewer working parts, with brake wear far lower.

When considering parts prices which have risen by around 10 per cent in the past 12 months the BEV/ICE SMR cost gap widens further.

Fleet Assist’s SMR data shows that currently the most common BEV parts being replaced are pollen filters, bulbs, key fob batteries, wipers, and brake fluid.

This data is based on the 850,000 fleet cars and vans using Fleet Assist’s 5,200-strong franchised and independent garage network in the UK.

Despite this, Fleet Assist says that it does not guarantee that BEV servicing prices will reduce dramatically as dealers look to raise SMR costs to retain their profitability.

Dealers are starting to feel the pinch of reduced servicing revenues as drivers cover fewer miles which coincides with a rapid rise in operating costs, particularly technician salaries.

“Garages are already starting to come to terms with how EVs will impact their servicing revenues and workshop traffic in the longer term,” said Vincent St Claire, Fleet Assist’s MD.

“We may see more garages looking at ways to address how the paradigm shift of BEV aftersales is going to challenge their service provision and fees they charge,” he added.