If youre manufacturing EVs that cant be repaired, its going to be a real challenge to sustain residual values experts call for more repairability in the battery industry

Date:
Thu, 14 May 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Description:
Experts are calling for more EV repairability, as range-focussed battery
packs could seriously hurt residual values

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Cox Automotive warns that long-term future of EVs is under threat A culture of 'replace rather than repair' could be damaging residual values As a result, older EVs will
struggle to stay on the road The notion of a vehicle clocking up the mystical 500,000-mile figure could potentially die with the internal combustion
engine, as experts warn that the current manufacturer focus on recyclability rather than repairability in modern EVs is threatening the long-term future
of the technology itself.

Speaking at the FT Future of the Car Summit in London, Cox Automotives European director of operations for EV battery solutions, Antonia Stephenson, said that it is important that manufacturers design batteries "with repair in mind", adding that it was important to "keep them in the vehicle and then
into the energy storage industry beyond that," according to Auto Express . Stephenson pointed out that the EV industry is currently focused on range, as manufacturers attempt to convince buyers to move away from petrol and diesel by offering models that offer similar mileage to their fossil-fuel-burning counterparts between stops. Latest Videos From You may like A massive new survey just dispelled the biggest myth about EV batteries 5 ways Trumps big climate policy reversal could change EVs and cars I've owned an EV for four years and this could end my range anxiety woes

As a result, Stephenson claims that "design has moved in the way of less repairable batteries" and that current legislation is built around recycling, rather than incentivizing manufacturers to make battery packs easy to repair.

The result of relying on replacing damaged or worn-out battery packs, rather than opting for cheaper repairs, could be very challenging for the residual values of used vehicles.

"Brand reputation is very important, and with so much choice now, people are going to be thinking about repairability in the future," she added. Analysis: a lack of repairability plagues the tech industry (Image credit: Getty Images / Anadolu) As we have seen with laptops, tablets, and smartphones, much of
the consumer tech world is racing headlong into an era of irreparability,
with most products now making it almost impossible to repair or replace individual parts . Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from
us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Now, more than ever, EVs are being compared to the same pieces of consumer tech essentially oversized computers on wheels .

While they may host AI-powered voice assistants and could one day be able to drive themselves, they also suffer from similar consumer confidence issues, with many buyers worried what their vehicles will be worth in, say, ten
years' time or if any of the onboard tech will still work.

But buying a new vehicle is often cited as the second-largest purchase an individual will make, after buying a house or flat, which means secondhand or residual value is extremely important. What to read next Come on, China the Range Rover clones have to stop How the smartphone industry can build trust
in refurbished devices These 3 affordable EVs could be the perfect way to
beat the fuel crisis

As Antonia Stephenson points out: "If we keep throwing things away and not repairing them once theyre out of warranty, there's a big problem being
stored up.

"If a second-hand vehicle doesn't have a warranty, if the battery's only option is to be recycled and a new one purchased, its not as cost-effective
as people would expect from a second-hand vehicle."

This very issue is creating a large swathe of EV skeptics, keen to hold on to their internal combustion engines because they know parts can easily be sourced and replaced when they wear out.

Battery packs are one of the most expensive parts of a modern electric vehicle, and it feels completely backward and ridiculously energy-intensive
to recycle and replace, rather than be able to easily replace damaged cells. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech/hybrid-electric-vehicles/if-youre-manuf acturing-evs-that-cant-be-repaired-its-going-to-be-a-real-challenge-to-sustain -residual-values-experts-call-for-more-repairability-in-the-battery-industry


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)