AXA highlights risks of heat-intensive spray booths for EVs

The shift to greener transport presents a raft of new challenges for garages and repair shops, mostly due to the lithium-ion batteries that replace traditional engines in electric vehicles, according to AXA UK Commercial.

When car panels are repaired and resprayed, they require curing which 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, AXA UK Commercial warns that it can have a significant impact on EVs.

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

“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.”

AXA UK Commercial has created safety risk guidance for EV paint repairs that is being shared with brokers and customers across the motor trade sector to ensure they are aware of the potential dangers.

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.

AXA UK Commercial said it is important 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.