Mitchell has released its latest quarterly Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights report, which shows the gap in average claim severity between repairable battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) automobiles reached its lowest level on record in the U.S. and Canada.
In the U.S., the gap was $729 last quarter, with average repairable severity of $5,684 for BEVs versus $4,955 for ICE vehicles. In Canada, the gap was $1,234 CAD, with BEV severity of $6,645 CAD compared to $5,411 CAD for gasoline-powered automobiles. Although BEVs remain more costly to repair, Mitchell’s latest data suggests that higher total loss frequency and a maturing electric vehicle fleet is bringing repair expenses across powertrain options closer to parity.
“The shrinking BEV repair cost premium is an important development for insurers and collision repairers, particularly as the electric vehicle car parc ages,” said Ryan Mandell, vice president of strategy and market intelligence for Mitchell. “At the same time, ongoing trade and geopolitical uncertainty could put renewed pressure on replacement part costs and availability, with BEVs particularly exposed because of their greater reliance on OEM components.”
The report also highlights regional trends in electric vehicle claims volume. In the U.S., the percentage of repairable claims involving BEVs remained flat at 3%, while mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) claims reached 6%, up 26% year over year. In Canada, BEVs and MHEVs each accounted for more than 5% of repairable claims, setting new records and rising 12% and 28% year over year, respectively. Canadian sales of new electric automobiles increased 21% in the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
Other notable data from the report includes:
OEM parts selection: BEVs continue to rely more heavily on OEM parts than ICE automobiles. On estimates for repairable vehicles, 85% of parts dollars were designated for OEM parts for BEVs versus 61% for ICE vehicles.
Repair-versus-replace decisions: Fewer parts are repaired on collision-damaged BEVs than ICE automobiles. Last quarter, 15% of parts on BEV estimates were written for repair compared to 17% for ICE vehicles.
To download the full Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights report, access previous issues or subscribe to future publications, visit mitchell.com/plugged-in.