The average transaction value of a service for a battery electric vehicle (BEV) is currently about 22% less than an equivalent internal combustion engine (ICE) car, new data suggests.
Much of this can be put down to reduced labour times which are currently 33% shorter for BEVs than ICE cars, according to analysis of 850,000 fleet cars and vans using Fleet Assist’s 5,200-strong franchised and independent garage network.
The parts component of a BEV job is also typically 28% cheaper than an ICE car due to them having fewer working parts, with brake wear far lower.
SMR data shows that currently the most common BEV parts being replaced are pollen filters, bulbs, key fob batteries, wipers, and brake fluid.
Fleet Assist says that the service, maintenance and repair (SMR) cost gap widens further, when you factor in parts prices have risen by around 10% in the past 12 months.
However, it warns that dealers are looking to raise SMR costs further to retain their profitability as they start to feel the pinch from reduced servicing revenues as drivers cover fewer miles and a rapid rise in operating costs, particularly technician salaries.
Fleet Assist was contacted recently by a franchised garage that was considering implementing a specific BEV servicing labour rate of £125, an 89% increase over the equivalent labour cost of servicing ICE cars.
Vincent St Claire, managing director of Fleet Assist, explained: “Garages are already starting to come to terms with how EVs will impact their servicing revenues and workshop traffic in the longer term.
“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.”
Fleet Assist says garages are having to take their future investment and growing overheads into account. This includes technician training, a continued provision of a collection and delivery service and courtesy vehicles and upgrading their workshops to manage BEVs, which includes multiple software updates.
A recent survey by The Motor Ombudsman confirmed that six in 10 garages expected to raise their prices in 2022 to remain profitable against the background of rising overheads.
Fleet Assist’s warning comes as Ashely Barnett, head of fleet consultancy at Lex Autolease, says EVs can be up to 50% cheaper to maintain than their ICE equivalents.
Writing exclusively for Fleet News, Barnett said: “Alongside the clear environmental and reputational benefits, there are compelling financial reasons to transition a fleet to electric, with savings reflected down the line in wholelife costs.”
Lorna McAtear, National Grid’s fleet manager, highlighted how BEVs do not need to be serviced so frequently, giving fleets further savings, particularly in terms of downtime.
"Over a three- or four-year period, you might send it in twice, whereas on an ICE vehicle, you'd send it in every year,” said McAtear.
While recognising that garages are having to navigate their way through the switch from servicing ICE vehicles to EVs, she warned against unjustifiable price hikes.
“Any garage that puts the labour rate up on EV disproportionately to an ICE vehicle, when we all know less work is needed, then I’m going to walk away.”
> Interested in comparing electric vehicle data? Check out our EV tool.
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Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.
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