ESB seeks 24 ecar Ambassadors to drive an ecar for 4 months

ecar insurance and support

With the ESB and car manufacturers joining together to look for Ambassadors for "ecars", how are motoring services organisations, both the roadside rescue, technical assessment and advice teams, and insurance services positioning themselves to cope with this new emerging automttive technology?

I emailed the list of questions below to a major motoring organisation and some insurance companies on 11/02/2014. I have yet to receive a single answer to any question posed.

• Q1. If I drive an "ecar" / EV will my insurance cover be different to that on my current 1.9 turbo diesel?
  • Why ask the question, surely it’s much of a muchness?
    • Not in my view. In the event of a collision, panels, drive-trains, batteries and other components unique to ecars are likely to be scarcer than those for “normal” cars and thus more expensive to replace. I see this pushing up the price of premiums on ecars in the short-term. Result: higher collision-damage / comprehensive insurance costs.
    • The other side of the coin is that with the perception of reduced range and outright speed and with limited public re-charging points available, your shiny new ecar is unlikely to be a target for car-thieves, in my opinion. They are far less likely to be targeted by thrill-seeking, opportunist thieves or robbers in need of a getaway car. Result: Lower theft insurance costs.
    • I’m not sure what percentage of car fires are electrical in origin, but the likelihood is that all-electric ecars may be more at risk of conflagration in accidents than ICEs. Result: Higher fire insurance costs.
• Q2. Can I take out a rescue package for my ecar / EV? If I can, what will it cover?
• Q3. What independent advice can you offer would-be buyers of EVs?
• Q4. Can your technical personnel check the mechanical / electrical reliability of an EV / ecar?
• Q5. I have a few more questions. If I need to address them to someone else, could you please direct me to that person?

My answers to Q1 are purely speculative.

Can anyone fill in the blanks on the remaining questions or indeed care to elucidate on any of my answers above?

Thanks, Pat McG

Out of curiosity, I filled in an online insurance quotation for a Nissan Leaf, and a similar spec and price Nissan Note. After entering all the details for the Leaf, I was passed on to the page of a specialist insurer whose primary business seems to come from young drivers with little or no experience, or those with driving convictions! So I filled in all the details there, but even their system wouldn't provide a quote.

Anyone reading this actually driving an EV? What are your insurance premiums like?

I've a feeling economic write-offs will be far more common with EVs due to the cost of replacing batteries.