Insurance firms think that electric cars are more expensive to cover.
According to S&P Global Ratings, the insurance premium for new energy cars is 20% higher than for traditional fuel-powered cars.
Pricing is determined by many factors. The loss ratio, a measure of cost for insurers, tends to be higher for new energy vehicles.
Since new energy vehicles often use parts that aren't mass-produced yet, more accidents are one of the reasons for a higher loss ratio.
In the U.S., insurance for electric cars is 15% more expensive than for combustion engine cars, due to the fact that electric cars are more expensive than luxury cars.
Repairs are one of the reasons for higher insurance prices. People who drive electric vehicles tend to pay lower maintenance costs over time. Do you get into an accident?
Insurify found that there was no difference in the accident rates of electric and hybrid cars in the U.S.
New energy vehicles in China are more prone to fires than traditional ones. According to the Fire and Rescue Department of the Ministry of Emergency Management, there were more fires in the first quarter of this year.
The ministry said that the increase was far more than the increase in fires. The figures weren't available recently. CNBC requested comment from the ministry, but they didn't reply.
The ministry reported at least 3000 new energy vehicle fires for the entire year. The risk of fire for such cars was higher than for traditional cars.
As the number of new energy vehicles has increased in China, the number of fires has increased as well.
More than three million new energy passenger cars were sold in the first eight months of the year, more than double the same period last year and 25% of all passenger cars sold in the country. Last year it was about 15%.
New energy vehicles make up a small portion of the US auto market.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles made up 9% of light-duty vehicle sales in the fourth quarter of 2011. There was a report that wasn't available. Pick-up trucks and vans are included in light-duty vehicles.
China, home to the world's largest auto market, has supported growth in new energy vehicles with policies that make it easier to get license plates.
In the first seven months of the year, tax exemptions for new energy vehicle purchases amounted to more than $5 billion. Both amounts were more than double what they were a year ago.
Many Chinese companies have rushed to launch new energy vehicles, but they don't know what their accident risk is.
The China Passenger Car Association's secretary-general said that new energy vehicles tend to be simpler than internal combustion vehicles.
He said that electric cars are based on a platform system and that it can be quicker to certify safety.
The Aito brand of energy vehicles was launched in less than a year thanks to a partnership between Seres andHuawei. The cars are using a new operating system.
At a launch event in July, Richard Yu boasted that his team and Seres were able to conduct many vehicle safety tests in a short period of time, to develop and launch two models.
There has been no record of anyone doing it so fast before in the 100 years of the auto industry.
Consumers have already received two of the cars. The first model of the new car brand was delivered in 87 days, setting an industry record, according to the company.
Helen Chai said it takes three to four years for a car to be made. She said it would take two to three years for a new model to be created.
The steps for developing and certifying a new energy vehicle and an internal combustion engine car are the same, according to her.
New models are being launched by other players, but not byTesla.
In the last year, Nio launched a second sedan and delivered a new SUV.
The joint electric car project, Jidu, was launched last year. The first Jidu car is going to start delivering customers next year.
The company had no response. Nio and Jidu didn't reply to CNBC's request.
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