What happens to an EV after an accident?

The car protects itself

When an EV detects a serious impact, it's designed to make itself safe. That can include deploying airbags, tensioning seatbelts and isolating the high-voltage battery, sometimes using a pyrofuse.

So an EV that won't drive after a crash isn't necessarily badly broken; its safety systems may have done exactly what they were designed to do.

Damage you can't see

Wiring, connectors, sensors and control modules can be damaged even when the bodywork looks repairable. Modules may also store crash-event data that affects how the car behaves until the correct repair work is done.

What to do

Don't try to investigate high-voltage parts. Photograph the damage and any messages on the screen, and get the vehicle professionally assessed.