Preparing vehicle damage assessors for the EV shift

As part of the ARC360 Conference 2025, held on 22 May at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, the Showcase Stage played host to a series of thought-provoking sessions exploring the theme ‘A New Era – The Changing Dynamics of a Sector’.

A leading contribution came from Dean Lander, Head of Repair Sector Services at Thatcham Research, with a vital and timely presentation titled ‘EV for VDA – essential insights for managing electric vehicles when evaluating and assessing vehicle accident damage’.

Bridging a critical skills gap

Dean’s presentation addressed a significant – and often overlooked – skills gap: the mismatch between traditional damage assessment techniques and the unique demands of electric vehicles (EVs). While many repairers are now investing in high-voltage (HV) repair training, fewer have equipped their Vehicle Damage Assessors (VDAs) with the specialised knowledge required to triage and assess EVs safely and effectively.

“The difference between a repair going smoothly and one causing delays or even damage lies in how that vehicle is assessed at the very start,” Dean explained. It’s not about teaching VDAs how to perform electrical repairs – it’s about helping them make informed decisions from the outset so that the right actions are taken by the right personnel at the right time.

A new training approach

To address this need, Thatcham Research has launched a dedicated EV insights course for VDAs, motor engineers, and others involved in accident damage evaluation.

The course aims to:

• Enhance safety awareness for those approaching HV vehicles.
• Sharpen damage assessment skills with EV-specific considerations.
• Improve understanding of battery architecture and vulnerability.
• Provide practical knowledge of manufacturer repair strategies.
• Enable users to better interpret Thatcham’s EV Alert data within its escribe platform.

Dean stressed that this is not a practical or technician-level course, but rather an intelligence- and process-focused programme that ensures EV assessments support the safe and efficient flow of repairs through the workshop.

Real-world relevance and data integration

Through pilot courses involving repairers, insurance engineers, and claims professionals, the programme has been fine-tuned to reflect industry realities. Delegates learn to identify if a battery is structural, what diagnostic equipment may be needed, and what repair protocols must be followed – even for routine operations like removing a door, which on some EVs requires pre-isolation of the battery to avoid long-term faults.

A key component of the training is alignment with Thatcham’s escribe ‘EV Alert’ functionality, which now prominently flags essential vehicle-specific repair considerations.

“It takes all the buried technical data and puts it front and centre,” Dean said, helping VDAs avoid the common pitfalls of misjudging EV repairability.

Accessible, scalable, and impactful

The EV for VDA course is available both in-person at Thatcham and virtually via Teams, with reduced group sizes online to encourage engagement. It can also be delivered on-site at bodyshops or claims centres with sufficient delegate interest.

Ultimately, Dean’s message was clear: a smart start ensures a safer, more effective outcome. By empowering VDAs with the knowledge to make the right call from the beginning, the industry can move more work into bodyshops and reduce unnecessary salvage – a win for repairers, insurers, and sustainability goals alike.

ARC360 2025 was supported by Corporate Partners: BASF, CAPS, Entegral, Enterprise, NWVA, Mirka, S&G Response, Sherwin Williams and Solera Audatex; alongside Partners: e2e and Repairify; with Vehicle Manufacturer Partner: Stellantis; and Event Sponsors: Onyx and Thatcham Research.