ARE EV’s SAFER THAN ICEs?

In our last blog, we discussed various new safety features on vehicles. Many of these new features fall under the broad category of Driver Assistance Systems, and many have only been on the market and available in a wide variety of vehicle models in the past 5 years. Based on crash studies and safety statistics, we reported that new vehicles tend to be safer vehicles, due to improvements in design and the fact that newer vehicles usually have more safety features. 

It follows, then, that Electric Vehicles, or EVs, have a better safety record than their gasoline-powered competitors and for much the same reasons: vehicle age, EV-only safety features, and weight distribution advantages. EV’s are often thought of in terms of other distinct advantages—money saved in fueling and maintenance costs, and a reduction in environmental impact and carbon footprint. But one major benefit that should not be ignored is that EVs may also be safer than traditional gas-powered cars, or internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

As noted above, one big reason for EV’s superior track record on safety is simply that they are relatively new vehicles. Thanks to engineering advances and crash analysis, newer automobiles tend to be built better. They also contain far more safety features to protect passengers, such as blind-spot detection and driver-assistance features, than older ICE vehicles. In 2022, out of 32 new vehicles rated, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave five-star ratings to 13 EVs and hybrids. Specifically, the probability of getting injured in crashes involving EVs is lower for passengers than in ICEs, according to an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study. The IIHS compared claims data from the electric and ICE versions of nine 2011 to 2019 autos. They found that injury claim rates for drivers and passengers of EVs were over 40% less than those for comparable ICE models.

FIRE RISKS

In addition to being newer, EVs have another built-in advantage over ICEs: they do not have gas tanks. While any vehicle can catch fire, the risk for EVs is far lower. Gas is volatile and flammable and a damaged gas tank can turn a simple collision into a deadly accident. A study showed 1,530 ICE-powered cars were involved in fires per 100,000 sold, whereas EVs had 25 fires per 100,000 sold.

So what about the fire hazards associated with batteries that have been in the news lately? To address potential risks for fire, spillage, and other issues involving the high-voltage battery in EVs, the cars have built-in safety features that shut down electrical systems when the vehicle detects a crash (via the airbags or crash sensors). Additionally, the cars are engineered to ensure that the battery remains anchored to the EV and have enhanced frameworks so the battery cannot intrude into the passenger area in a crash.

SPECIFIC EV SAFETY FEATURES

Stability: EVs have low centers of gravity with the motor and battery located at the bottom of the car. This enhances the traction of EVs, which also improves their stability and safety and reduces the risk of a rollover.

Better brakes: EVs tend to weigh more, so they typically have more powerful, larger brakes to ensure they can safely come to a complete stop or slow down, as needed. Furthermore, some EVs are using new regenerative braking systems that also help lower the car’s center of mass, thereby lowering its center of gravity. This has the additional benefit of recharging the battery while slowing the car down.

WHAT BENEFITS EV OCCUPANTS MAY HARM THOSE SHARING THE ROAD

EVs tend to weigh more than their ICE counterparts, and the added stability that this extra weight produces makes EVs safer overall. The caveat: all that extra vehicle weight might be detrimental for the safety of other people on the road, specifically occupants of lighter vehicles as well as pedestrians and bicyclists. As the IIHS has noted, there is a big difference between the first all-electric vehicle they tested — a 3,339-pound 2011 Nissan Leaf — and the current generation of EVs, many of which exceed 6,000 pounds. These are large SUVs and pickups, packed with power that requires a massive battery.  

So the increased protection of bigger EVs comes at the expense of people in other vehicles. The extra weight may also present a threat to pedestrians and bicyclists, though the danger for them is not as straightforward. The weight differential between a person and any type of passenger vehicle is already so enormous that the additional weight from an EV battery would make little difference in most cases. (Large vehicles do represent a bigger threat to pedestrians and bicyclists, but that is due mostly to their height and shape, which affect both visibility and whether a person is knocked to the ground when struck.) However, it’s not clear that all EVs have braking performance that matches their additional mass. If the extra weight leads to longer stopping distances, that will likely lead to an increase in pedestrian and cyclist deaths, which already have been on the rise in recent years.

BIGGER IS NOT NECESSARILY BETTER

As a society, we should consider how much mass individuals should be driving around in for the daily commute and excursions around town. There are EVs with more reasonable weights. In addition, the heaviest of the new EVs are heavier because they are bigger, but also because larger batteries afford them longer range and higher horsepower. The ability to travel 400 miles on a charge is convenient but unnecessary for most commutes. As charging speed and infrastructure improves, it will arguably be less important for road trips too. As for horsepower, is the kind of rapid acceleration the new models boast really important or even a good idea? Vehicles with extreme levels of power simply encourage more speeding, which leads to more fatal crashes.

THE TAKEAWAYS

Expected improvements in battery technology will help by allowing smaller batteries to store more energy and an expanding network of fast public chargers will take away some of the need for long ranges. In the meantime, we need to double down on existing solutions. Manufacturers should equip all new vehicles with high-performing crash avoidance systems that recognize and brake for pedestrians and bicyclists, in addition to other vehicles, and good headlights that allow drivers to react quickly at night. States and local governments should consider lowering speed limits, factoring in the increased danger from weight disparities, and backing them up with increased enforcement.

CONTACT YOUR ATTORNEY

If you or a loved one is involved in an accident with an EV, contact Dave Thomas at The Thomas Law Firm for a free evaluation of your legal rights.