Flooded LEAFs were going for pennies on the dollar until folks discovered that the hermetically-sealed battery pack was impervious to Hurricane Sandy, and now a severely crashed LEAF can hardly be had for under $6k, once all the fees are considered.
On the flip side, it's amazing what apparently tiny damage will total a car these days. Check out this totalled Smart EV.
http://www.salvageautosauction.com/...-Sale/lot-23413685/Courtice-Ontario/id/1/pg/1
I found it after noticing that electric Smart 'engines' list for half the price of salvaged Smart gasoline engines. ($1100-1800 vs $2200 and up)
A friend who owns a successful autobody franchise claims that his will be the last generation of serious collision repairmen. He says that if it can't be fixed with a bolt-on part, labor costs and perceived risk from measures such as frame straightening and extensive wiring harness repair price those repairs right out of the market.
Any insurance experts here? This plus the screwy residual values on EV leases has made me suspect either incompetence or impropriety in the auto insurance industry.
On the flip side, it's amazing what apparently tiny damage will total a car these days. Check out this totalled Smart EV.
http://www.salvageautosauction.com/...-Sale/lot-23413685/Courtice-Ontario/id/1/pg/1
I found it after noticing that electric Smart 'engines' list for half the price of salvaged Smart gasoline engines. ($1100-1800 vs $2200 and up)
A friend who owns a successful autobody franchise claims that his will be the last generation of serious collision repairmen. He says that if it can't be fixed with a bolt-on part, labor costs and perceived risk from measures such as frame straightening and extensive wiring harness repair price those repairs right out of the market.
Any insurance experts here? This plus the screwy residual values on EV leases has made me suspect either incompetence or impropriety in the auto insurance industry.
