Electric Vehicles, like other vehicles, are designed with safety as a top priority. In addition to EV-centric safety criteria, they go through the same tests that conventional vehicles go through. In this article, we will talk about hard facts & figures presented by credible bodies that shed light on EV safety.
Talking about electric cars, their batteries are enclosed in an IP-rated cover. They are also positioned on the vehicle floor. The lower centre of gravity in electric cars gives them a more stable base and reduces the risk of flipping or rolling-over. On the contrary, conventional ICE-powered cars have their heavy engines at the front of the car, which makes them more prone to overturning.
The lower center of gravity also improves the handling and performance of electric cars as the weight of the battery pack is distributed evenly across the car. This not only makes the driving experience more fun, but also improves safety by reducing the risk of losing control of the car.
Also, EVs do not have a fuel tank, which means they do not pose the same fire risks as conventional vehicles. In a conventional car, a fuel leak during an accident can ignite a fire. In an EV, the battery pack is designed to be fire-resistant and has in-built safety features that help prevent fires.
High-end electric cars come with advanced safety features such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, lane assist system, pedestrian detection system, automatic emergency brake, high-beam assist, 360-degree camera system, etc.
Facts & Figures:
According to Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a US-based agency which provides data on fatal traffic crashes, Electric Vehicles have a lesser risk of catching fire than ICE vehicles. As per FARS, in fatal vehicle crashes, fire was observed in 4.4% of ICE vehicles and 2.6% of EVs.
EV FireSafe conducted a study that found the chance of an EV battery catching fire to be just 0.0012%. EV FireSafe is a private company that received seed-funding from Australia’s Dept of Defense to research on EV battery fires when the EV is connected to high-capacity charging. The company also provides tailored consultations to government agencies & private companies.
According to Larson Law Firm, out of the three: EVs, conventional vehicles & hybrid vehicles, hybrids have the most fires per 100,000 sales. Larson Law Firm is a United States-based litigation firm that specializes in motor vehicle crash claims. The complete figures stated by the firm are:
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The same was confirmed by another agency. As per National Transportation Safety Board (data compiled by AutoInsuranceEZ), EVs were deemed safer than both hybrid vehicles and fuel-run cars. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is a United States federal agency tasked with conducting accident investigations be it highway, aviation, marine or any other mode of transportation. AutoInsuranceEZ is a Washington-based company involved in automobile insurance.
EV passengers have a lower probability of suffering fire-related injuries or death than passengers of ICE vehicles, as per research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA is part of the United States Dept of Transportation entrusted with enforcing Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) claims that EVs are safer based on evidence from insurance data analysis. Research indicates that injury claims are substantially less frequent in EVs when compared to fuel-powered vehicles. IIHS is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing motor vehicle crashes through research and education of consumers & policy-makers.
Conclusion:
All electric cars are designed to meet the same strict manufacturing and safety regulations as their fuel-run counterparts. Fundamentally, they go through the same elaborate process, with an almost obsessive amount of effort spent on making these vehicles as safe as possible.
As advanced batteries are developed and awareness about charging safety goes up, EVs will become even safer in times to come.
