Electric cars certainly have a lot of potential to help in the fight against climate change and environmental disaster. If all cars in the UK were electric, then the emissions in the country would drop by 12%. However, it?s not just safer for the planet to drive electric; EVs may also be able to address another issue that is affecting people worldwide.?
Traffic-related accidents and fatalities are the leading cause of death for people all of all ages around the world, and the number-one cause of fatalities among children and young people. Due to their mechanics and how they are driven, EVs could play an important part in making the roads a safer place to be for everyone. Studies suggest that conserving energy is a top priority for many EV drivers, which has resulted in more mindful driving ? for example, sticking to speed limits helps to conserve energy, along with reducing stop-start driving and braking more gently.?
Some of the main reasons why EVs are safer on the roads include:
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Extended Breaks to Charge
One main difference when driving an electric car, especially when taking a long journey, is the need to take an extended break to charge the battery. Instead of filling up with petrol and being on their way in minutes, EV drivers might need to wait around for a while for the battery to charge. While the exact time can vary depending on the battery capacity and the type of charger used, it?s not uncommon for EV drivers to need to spend half an hour to an hour at the service station. This can be great for safety as it forces drivers to take a break, grab some food and have a rest from being on the road, which in turn helps them return to driving feeling more alert. Drivers who take breaks tend to be safer than those who go for hours without stopping. Visit this page to find out more about EV leasing and its benefits.?
More Than One Motor
Most drivers are used to handling cars that have a single source of power: the internal combustion engine. However, in the case of an EV, it?s not unusual to have two, or in some cases, four electric motors in the same vehicle. This leads to something known as torque vectoring or distributing traction and braking to different engines inside the car, which ultimately makes it safer. When different amounts of torque are applied to each side of the car, a turning effect is produced which makes the car safer by influencing the cornering response. Along with this, EVs are fitted with electronic stability control systems that improves the overall safety of the car by preventing the driver from losing control in poor road conditions.?
Lower Centre of Gravity?
EVs have a lower centre of gravity due to the battery, which centres the weight in the middle of the car, meaning that they have a much lower risk of rolling or flipping over in the event of a crash. Along with this safety benefit, the lower centre of gravity due to the placement of the battery also improves the handling of the car and makes for a more comfortable drive. The car is less likely to bounce over potholes and is smoother on the road, even if the terrain isn?t the best. In the event of a collision, the fact that the centre of gravity is lower in an EV means that you may be able to retain control of the car throughout, or at least get back in control of it sooner compared to when driving an internal combustion engine car. This is likely to lead to less crashes where cars are rolling and flipping off the road, or serious crashes where cars have fully turned upside down and trapped the driver inside.?
Better Collision Resistance
Electric cars have been found to be safer and perform better even in situations where a car accident can?t be prevented. Research has found that the chances of passengers being hurt in a collision in an electric car were lower compared to in an internal combustion engine car. EVs have obtained very high safety ratings in crash tests conducted by the NHTSA thanks to the external aluminium plating that will usually surround the battery array in an EV. Along with this, there is an additional layer of fire protection between the batteries and passengers in an electric vehicle. Electric cars have also been shown to perform better and be much safer in the event of a frontal crash, as the front of the car is designed to crumple upon impact.?
Less Maintenance Required
EVs are much simpler in comparison to traditional internal combustion engine cars when it comes to their moving parts and everything that is under the hood. There are fewer parts to take care of, which not only means cheaper and more hassle-free maintenance, but also that there are fewer parts that could lead to a malfunction or breakdown. When you drive an EV, maintenance needs like fuel filters, spark plugs, oil changes, and emissions checks are no longer needed. And with fewer things to maintain or go wrong when driving, the safer you will be when you are on the road. As a result of this, you will save a lot of money on regular maintenance on your car, which in turn means that EV drivers have more to spend on making sure that the car is repaired properly if any issues due arise.?
Less Flammability
When it comes to fire protection there?s a lot of misinformation out there about EVs. However, the truth is that electric cars are actually safer in comparison to a traditional internal combustion engine car, with fewer chances of catching fire. EV fires are much rarer compared to fires that occur in petrol- or diesel-powered cars, with data showing that around 150 fires per day occur in traditional combustion engines. While the lithium-ion batteries that EVs run on are certainly quite flammable, these batteries will only lead to fire if they are exposed to the wrong conditions for a long time, or in the event of the power cells short-circuiting due to damage. The risk that either of these will happen is very small, and data suggests that only one in every 100 million lithium-ion batteries will actually catch fire.?
More Sensors
While traditional internal combustion engine cars are becoming safer with the addition of various sensors, they are really being rolled out when it comes to electric cars. EVs are more likely to be fitted with the latest safety systems including detecting obstacles on the road ahead or informing you when it is safe to change lanes on the motorway, ultimately making driving a safer and more hassle-free experience.?
If you drive on the roads today, you will know that any kind of driving can sometimes be a risky experience. No matter how safe you try to be, you simply can?t control other drivers and the cars they are in. With more and more people switching to electric cars, driving is likely to become safer, as these cars are naturally safer compared to traditional petrol and diesel vehicles.?
