ELECTRIC CARS PERFORM BETTER THAN EXPECTED

Evidence is growing that electric vehicles are at least as safe as conventional ones, with two more vehicles that run exclusively on battery power earning safety awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition, an updated analysis of insurance data shows injury claims are substantially less frequent for such vehicles. The study looks at electric and conventional versions of nine models from 2011 to 2019, yielding more than twice as large a sample as a previous study conducted in 2017. It examines collision, property damage liability and injury claims.

The updated data show that electric cars appear to perform better in real world settings, with human drivers and passengers aboard. Injury claims for electric vehicles were about 40% lower than accidents involving identical gas-powered models, according to data from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). NHTSA concluded that the likelihood of passenger injuries in crashes involving electric vehicles is actually slightly lower, meaning that they are safer to passengers, than those involving vehicles with gasoline and diesel engines.

TESLA’S SUCCESS

G.M. and Ford closed one factory after another — sometimes for months on end — because of a shortage of computer chips , leaving dealer lots bare and sending car prices soaring. Yet Tesla racked up record sales quarter after quarter and ended the year having sold nearly twice as many vehicles as it did in 2020 unhindered by an industrywide crisis. Tesla sold 936,000 cars globally in 2021, an 87% increase for the year. Ford, G.M. and Stellantis, the company formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot, all sold fewer cars in 2021 than they did in 2020.

Cars are becoming increasingly digital, defined by their software as much as their engines and transmissions. Tesla emerged successful despite product shortages and supply chain problems because it never outsourced its software; it writes its own code. As a result, Tesla was able to rewrite the software so it could replace chips in short supply with chips that were available. The other carmakers were not able to do that.

Tesla is also taking advantage of—or perhaps acting as the driving force in—an industry in the midst of a radical transformation. With climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions becoming more obvious, governments all over the world are encouraging the production and purchase of electric vehicles. Tax credits, stricter emissions standards, and regional support for production facilities (through financial incentives and upgrades to infrastructure) are all ways in which the transition to electric vehicles is being promoted.

SAFE AND GREEN: A WIN/WIN

The question of whether a battery-powered vehicle is as safe as a traditional vehicle has always loomed large. One obvious reason is the battery; the lithium-ion battery is combustible and can catch fire; it has power cells that can cause short-circuiting if it is damaged. However, lithium-ion batteries have a much lower risk of fire explosions than gasoline in conventional vehicles. Their battery packs are encased in sealed shells and meet testing standards that subject batteries to conditions such as overcharge, vibration, extreme temperatures, short circuit, humidity, fire, collision, and water immersion. Manufacturers design these vehicles with insulated high-voltage lines and safety features that deactivate the electrical system when they detect a collision or short circuit.

According to the NHTSA, the Tesla Model S, which protects its battery array with an additional shielding of an external aluminum plate and has a layer of fire protection between the batteries and the passenger compartment, received the highest possible safety ratings in crash tests.

In addition, electric vehicle batteries weigh a lot, making the cars themselves heavier than traditional cars. The extra weight may also provide a safety boost , according to the IIHS, as research shows that occupants in heavier vehicles experience less force in a crash, leading to fewer injuries. EVs tend to have a lower center of gravity than conventional vehicles, making them more stable and less likely to roll over.

ACCIDENTS (STILL) HAPPEN

Despite the safety features of electric vehicles, and despite the best intentions of all of us when we get behind the wheel of cars—electric or traditional—accidents do happen. When they happen, we should focus on a few key actions: getting medical help if needed; getting the insurance and contact information from the other driver(s) involved; getting contact information of any witnesses, and taking pictures of the accident scene and vehicles involved; and consulting with an accident or personal injury attorney. An experienced accident attorney will look at all the evidence and information gathered to determine which parties potentially have liability for injuries and damages, and then set out to obtain recovery from those parties.

CONTACT YOUR ATTORNEY

If you or someone you know has been involved in an automobile accident, contact Dave Thomas at The Thomas Law Firm for a free evaluation of your legal rights.