Mitchell, a provider in the development of innovative auto physical damage technology solutions, released its latest Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights report. This quarter’s report reveals that the gap in average claims severity between repairable battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) automobiles has reached its lowest level on record in both the U.S. and Canada.
With a gap of just $729 in the U.S. last quarter, average repairable severity for BEVs was $5,684 compared to $4,955 for ICE alternatives. In Canada, the gap was $1,234 CAD with BEV severity of $6,645 CAD versus $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, Mitchell’s vice president of strategy and market intelligence. “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 markedly different regional trends in electric vehicle claims volume. While the percentage of repairable claims involving BEVs remained flat at 3% in the U.S., mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) claims reached a new all-time high of 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 also jumped 21% in the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
