With the increasing prevalence of electric vehicles (EVs), there is a growing concern about their safety not only for drivers but also for others on the road. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has conducted tests that show EVs perform well in simulated crashes. The weight of the EVs, due to their batteries, provides better protection to passengers inside the vehicle. However, this extra weight, ranging from hundreds to thousands of pounds, raises concerns among traffic safety advocates about potential risks to other drivers.
Jennifer Homendy, the National Transportation Safety Board chair, expressed her belief that EVs pose significant safety challenges. She emphasized that crashes involving lighter vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists would have different outcomes compared to previous experiences, potentially resulting in tragic consequences. When asked if she was concerned about an increase in fatalities on the road due to EVs, Homendy replied with an affirmative answer, stating that there is inadequate focus on safety in this aspect.
Government data reveals that the average weight of vehicles on the road by mid-2023 was approximately 4,300 pounds. However, certain newer large EVs weigh significantly more. Crash experts stress the importance of this weight difference, citing basic laws of physics. Raul Arbelaez, the vice president of IIHS’ Vehicle Research Center in Ruckersville, Virginia, explains that the greater weight of an EV can lead to more severe crashes for the other vehicle involved.
For instance, GMC’s Hummer EV weighs over 9,000 pounds and can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in about three seconds. It is more than 3,000 pounds heavier than GMC’s full-size pickup truck, with its battery alone weighing about the same as a Toyota Corolla sedan. Similarly, the electric Ford F-150 Lightning pickup is up to 2,500 pounds heavier than the lightest gas-powered version of the same vehicle model. Rivian’s R1 pickup weighs around 7,100 pounds.
IIHS tests have demonstrated that a significant weight difference between vehicles can have a noticeable impact during a crash. In a specific test involving a 2018 Kia Forte sedan and a 2016 Kia Sorento SUV, the latter vehicle, which weighed 928 pounds more than the sedan, collided with it at a speed of 40 mph, simulating a near head-on collision. The results showed that the forces exerted on the driver dummy in the sedan were much greater than those in the SUV.
The post-crash analysis revealed a high probability of head injuries for the Forte driver, possible leg injuries, as well as potential neck and chest injuries. In contrast, the Sorento SUV test dummy displayed mostly positive injury measurements, aside from a possible right leg injury. The sedan also sustained more visible damage compared to the SUV. According to IIHS spokesman Joseph Young, although the 2018 Forte performed well in crash tests and was considered a safe choice among small cars, the added weight of the Sorento pushed the limits of what the smaller car could withstand. This resulted in additional structural intrusion and a higher risk of injury, despite both vehicles traveling at the same speed.
A 2011 study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research revealed that a 1,000-pound difference between vehicles increases the likelihood of a crash turning fatal by 47%.
Arbelaez has expressed concerns about the safety risks heavier EVs on the road may pose to other drivers. He explained that when a very large vehicle, such as a 10,000-pound one, collides with a mid-size SUV, the impact on the smaller vehicle would be significant. The crash severity would escalate from 40 mph to approximately 58 mph. Research indicates that once the crash severity surpasses the standard 40 mph level, safety for the occupants of smaller vehicles decreases dramatically. The occupant compartment begins to collapse in ways that were not accounted for in the design.
While vehicle weight is just one factor in a crash, traffic safety advocates acknowledge its importance. Additionally, since EVs still represent a small fraction of vehicles on the road, crash and injury data remain limited.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the country’s top road safety regulator, states that it is closely monitoring this issue and conducting extensive research on the differences between gas-powered vehicles and EVs. This research includes investigating the crash implications related to size and weight. Up to 2023, NHTSA reported no awareness of any disparity in crash outcomes between electric and non-electric vehicles, but specific crash data involving EVs was not provided upon request.
Homendy believes that although the focus on air quality is commendable, attention should also be paid to safety when it comes to EVs. She emphasizes that these two factors are not mutually exclusive and that efforts should be made to improve safety alongside environmental concerns.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade association representing automakers, emphasizes its commitment to safety. The association mentions that automakers are continuously testing, developing, and integrating breakthrough safety technologies like automatic emergency braking (AEB), which plays a significant role in saving lives and preventing injuries. AEB technology is already prevalent in both EVs and many new gas-powered vehicles. In May, NHTSA announced its requirement for AEB on all new passenger cars and light trucks, expecting a significant reduction in rear-end and pedestrian crashes.
Automakers have voluntarily been incorporating AEB technology since 2016 when they agreed to equip at least 95% of passenger cars and trucks with the feature. IIHS predicts that this voluntary commitment alone will prevent 42,000 crashes and 20,000 injuries by 2025.
On their test track, IIHS demonstrated one of these collision avoidance systems installed in an electric SUV weighing nearly 5,000 pounds. The system successfully halted the vehicle, traveling at approximately 20 mph, before colliding with car-shaped and pedestrian-shaped obstacles.
In conclusion, as electric vehicles become more prevalent, concerns over their safety for both drivers and others on the road are increasing. Tests conducted by the IIHS have shown that EVs perform well in simulated crashes due to their heavier weight, which provides better protection to passengers. However, this extra weight also raises concerns about potential risks to other drivers. Crash experts emphasize the impact of weight differences between vehicles and highlight the need for improved safety measures. While EVs are still a minority on the roads, further research and the inclusion of safety technologies like AEB can contribute to mitigating these concerns.
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