Costly failures involving high-voltage components could make some older electric cars uneconomical to repair once warranties expire and vehicle values fall, according to Bosch Mobility Aftermarket chairman Rupert Hoellbacher.
The concern is not routine servicing but faults involving batteries, power electronics, electric motors and thermal-management systems.
Reports citing Hoellbacher’s interview with German publication Automobilwoche said such costly failures can happen but remain relatively rare, and do not mean older EVs are generally expensive or unreliable to own.
Bosch is preparing workshops for more high-voltage repair work as EVs move into the independent aftermarket.
At Automechanika Frankfurt in 2024, it introduced equipment that can check battery condition down to cell level, charge and discharge individual modules, balance cells and test battery housings and cooling circuits for leaks.
The equipment can also be used when modules are replaced, allowing old and new units to be brought to the same state of charge.
Bosch separately offers a repair set for selected Toyota and Lexus hybrid batteries that allows worn modules to be replaced instead of the entire battery assembly.
At Automechanika Frankfurt 2026, Bosch said workshops would increasingly need diagnostics, parts, equipment, software and training as vehicles become more complex.
As EVs get older, the ability to repair individual components or battery modules could make the difference between fixing the car and writing it off.
