Modern cars produce masses of data. The ADAC took a close look at some models: The BMW 320d records the mileage at which the engine reaches maximum speed and how long the driver uses the various modes of the automatic transmission: “Continuous”, “Manual” and “Sport”. This allows the driving style to be assessed. The car knows how often the electric driver’s seat is adjusted and can therefore measure how many drivers use the car.
Every time you drive, at least every 30 minutes, the Renault Zoe sends a data packet to Renault. It contains various serial numbers, date, time, position, temperature, charge status and cell voltage of the drive battery. The Mercedes B-Class (W246, 2011 to 2018) sends the position and status data to Mercedes every two minutes. The car stores the number of motorized belt tightenings that also occur due to heavy braking.
For car insurers, all this data is worth its weight in gold
All modern cars display a similar data collection frenzy. And: In the event of an accident, they automatically make an emergency call. The emergency call centers will then contact those affected. For car insurers, all this data is worth its weight in gold. You want to be informed immediately in the event of an accident. Then you can take control of the claims settlement directly and save a lot of money. This is because they prevent tow trucks, workshops and lawyers from getting involved and making the process more expensive.
Some insurers offer telematics tariffs that provide discounts if the driver adheres to traffic rules and safe and sustainable driving regulations. Compliance with these rules is measured by apps on the cell phone or by sensors. If insurers had access to the data the vehicle collects, it would be much easier, more accurate and cheaper. That’s why some insurers buy the data from the manufacturers.
But the real question is: who do they actually belong to? Us, of course, say the manufacturers. No, the user of the vehicle, say the insurers, and hope that they will then get the data from them – as part of a cheap insurance offer.
The alliance wants to use sensor and camera data to investigate accidents
Allianz is particularly customer-friendly. “We can calculate significantly more risk-appropriate insurance offers that take into account both the driving style of the driver and the vehicle’s equipment with safety systems and whether these are switched on or off,” said Klaus-Peter Röhler, board member of Allianz SE, at the The insurer’s car day at the Allianz Center for Technology in Ismaning. “At the same time, the sensor and camera data can be used for the proper, correct and fair investigation of an accident and for liability determination.” Allianz calculates that insured people can save up to 30 percent on their premiums.
The Munich insurer supports the “Data Act” launched by the European Union. The new data law should give users of devices and machines the right to decide for themselves whether to pass on their data. However, the alliance is not yet completely satisfied with the current draft. It demands that users have full transparency about what data the vehicle collects. There will also be an “independent data trustee” that will enable a more secure exchange of personal data.
The insurer commissioned a survey for this purpose. The results show that drivers also doubt that insurers collect data: only 58 percent of those surveyed in Germany agree to automatically pass on their data to third parties if this leads to faster settlement of claims. And only 53 percent can imagine sharing the data with the insurer in order to receive better services such as automatic accident detection or roadside assistance.
The data could also be important for determining the value of used electric cars
The possibility of data deletion is much more important to those surveyed: this is requested by 78 percent of those surveyed. Especially when leasing or rental cars are returned, users want to be able to completely delete the data. 70 percent of those surveyed would like to be notified as soon as the vehicle collects data.
The Allianz experts believe that the possibility of collecting data is becoming increasingly important in a completely different context: for determining the value of a used electric car. The fact that the functionality of a battery in a used electric vehicle cannot yet be meaningfully determined or even displayed is one reason why the used car market for these cars is not taking off. Replacing a battery costs between 10,000 euros and 50,000 euros.
“Negative influences on the battery can quickly lead to an increased loss of capacity of up to 20 percent,” says Frank Sommerfeld, head of Allianz Insurance, citing frequent quick charging, charging levels that are too low, high ambient temperatures and long downtimes as examples. He calls for the possibility of independent certification of the battery condition of an electric car. “This is the only way to ensure that used car trading can be carried out correctly and based on data in the future,” says Sommerfeld.