Why a minor crash can total an EV

Even the seemingly smallest damage to a battery pack on an EV can result in insurance companies writing off the whole vehicle as unusable. While Ford and GM are developing battery packs that are easier to repair and replace, Tesla and other EV makers are doing the opposite. Tesla uses structural batteries that are part of the EV architecture making them near impossible to repair and recycle. Tesla does this because it is cheaper and easier to manufacture the vehicle this way. For example, The Tesla Model Y has near zero repairability and will often be written off and destroyed for even minor damage. This problem is so prevalent that Tesla offers its own car insurance in some states. Also, Tesla does not allow third parties to look at battery diagnostic data to check if a battery is functional or even safe. Therefore, insurance companies are afraid of using recycled battery packs for liability reasons.
The average monthly insurance payment for an EV is $206, which is 27% more than for a combustion engine vehicle. The cost to replace a battery pack may exceed $15,000. A replacement battery for a Tesla Model 3 can cost up to $20,000 for a vehicle that retails for $43,000.
Works Cited:
https://jalopnik.com/ev-battery-damage-minor-crash-car-totaled-recycling-1850243294
https://www.kbb.com/car-news/insurers-are-writing-off-lightly-damaged-teslas/