Public opinion about the crash safety of electric vehicles is based on several high-profile fire incidents that are often exaggerated in the media and social media; because although this technology has been around for many years, it still attracts great attention. These safety concerns may be exaggerated, and the actual safety of electric vehicles depends on some nuances.

Jingwen Hu, a scientist at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, has been researching vehicle safety for more than two decades, focusing on the biomechanics of impact injuries in car crashes. He expressed his views on how well modern electric cars protect people.

A safe car – what is it

Electric vehicles and vehicles with internal combustion engines undergo the same crash test procedures to evaluate crashworthiness and occupant protection. In the US, these tests are conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Vehicle Evaluation Program and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Crash test dummies representing medium-sized men and small women in the passenger compartment are used to assess the risk of injury. The tests can evaluate the fire hazard caused by fuel leaking from the gas tank of an internal combustion engine vehicle, or thermal radiation from battery ruptures in electric vehicles when lithium-ion batteries are subjected to rapid, uncontrolled heating.

None of the crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety resulted in an electric vehicle fire. New Car Evaluation Program crash test reports show similar results. Although analysis of real-world fire data involving electric vehicles is limited, it appears that Mass media and social networks exaggerate the fire danger associated with electric vehiclessays Jingwen Hu.

Electric vehicles tend to weigh much more and have a lower center of gravity than conventional vehicles due to the large battery packs located in the base of the vehicle. This arrangement significantly reduces the likelihood of rollover accidents with a high fatality rate. Additionally, crash dynamics show that in a collision between two vehicles, the heavier vehicle has an advantage because it does not brake as hard; this is a factor closely related to the risk of injury to passengers.

An electric car’s battery may look different at each company. This is an option / Remove photo

From a technological perspective, most EVs are new models equipped with state-of-the-art safety systems, from advanced energy-absorbing materials to the latest crash-avoidance systems and advanced seat belts and airbags. All these functions together increase the protection of passengers.

Where the risks really get bigger

Unfortunately, electric cars are not without safety problems.

While the inherent weight of electric vehicles provides a natural advantage in protecting passengers, it also means: other vehicles bear the burden of absorbing more energy in the event of a collision with heavier electric vehicles. This dilemma is at the heart of the concept of “crash compatibility” that has long been studied in the security field.

Consider a scenario in which a small sedan collides with a heavy truck. Drivers and passengers of a sedan always face an increased risk of injury. Compatibility studies measure a vehicle’s “aggressiveness” by the level of damage it inflicts on other vehicles and Heavier models are almost always considered more aggressive.

Additionally, the increased energy associated with impacts from heavier electric vehicles, especially electric pickups, creates significant problems for road protection. In addition, electric cars, especially cars that run silently at low speeds, increased risk to pedestrians, cyclists and others who cannot hear the electric vehicle approaching.

Better security thanks to new technologies

While electric vehicles increase the safety level of their owners, it is important to recognize and address the safety problems they create for other road users.

I believe that technological progress will be an important catalyst in overcoming the safety barriers faced by electric vehicles. Lighter materials, stronger sensor technologies and safety algorithms, improved seat belts and better airbags will play a key role in this.
– says Jingwen Hu.

Additionally, the close connection between electric vehicles and rapidly developing computing capabilities is likely to contribute to the development of new safety technologies.