If you’re thinking of buying an electric or hybrid car, congratulations on your decision: not only will you save money on fuel, but you’ll also help to reduce pollution, since a conventional vehicle emits an average of 2.3 kg of CO 2 for every liter of gasoline or diesel it consumes. What you may not know is that insurance for this type of car has some interesting features worth knowing about.
Cheaper
The good news: insurance for this type of vehicle is usually cheaper than that of combustion vehicles. In addition to the usual coverage they share with conventional vehicles – roadside assistance, broken windscreens, etc. – the insurance for hybrid and electric cars must cover two very important aspects: the charging cable and battery failure.
The star of the show: the battery
The battery is the “jewel in the crown” of this type of car. In fact, it is the most expensive component: any damage caused to it can represent between 10,000 and 20,000 euros in repair costs. But don’t worry. Battery malfunction is highly unlikely and therefore manufacturers usually provide a warranty on this component for a long time or for a high mileage.
However, the insurance of your hybrid or electric vehicle will have to cover certain damages related to power surges, short circuits, animal bites and the direct theft of the charging cable.
Not just any tow truck
Another important issue to take into account is the protection of the car when it has to be towed to the next charging station due to breakdown, battery discharge or simply because the battery has run out. Not all tow trucks are equipped to tow electric vehicles, which is why it is so important that the insurance includes any type of tow truck damage.
Greater environmental awareness
There are currently about 45,000 hybrid and electric vehicles registered in Spain. This figure represents only 0.18% of our automobile fleet. However, special grant plans for buying these vehicles, the continuous development of infrastructures such as charging stations, and greater environmental awareness are all driving consumers towards choosing this type of car when it comes to updating one of the oldest fleets in Europe, with an average age of 11.6 years.
