- EVs are much less more likely to rear-end different vehicles because of improved frontal collision avoidance tech
- They’re, nonetheless, extra more likely to be rear-ended
- EVs nonetheless take extra time and are dearer to restore versus gas-powered vehicles
It seems that driving an EV may make you much less of a street hazard—a minimum of from behind. A new research exhibits that EVs are racking up fewer and fewer front-end collisions in comparison with their gas-powered counterparts. The information exhibits that ICE vehicles are, on common, 6% extra more likely to be concerned in a repairable front-end collision than EVs (32% vs 26%, respectively). So what is the secret, precisely? Properly, it is all that fancy new driver-assistance tech!
Let’s dive into why EVs are successful this battle. The foremost motive is simply how new EVs are to market; fresh-off-the-line EVs on the street have a more recent common mannequin yr in comparison with most gas-powered fashions. This implies newer and extra refreshed tech planted in EVs—lane-keeping, front-crash avoidance programs, and automated emergency braking—are all doing their job fairly nicely and padding the stats within the EVs’ favor.
Photograph by: Tesla
Curiously, whereas repairable EVs are much less more likely to hit a car from the entrance, they’re extra more likely to be plowed into from the rear. The research exhibits that 36% of BEV repairs are for rear-end impacts versus 28% of ICE automobiles. This appears like such a bizarre statistic, does not it? However stick with me right here, as a result of there is likely to be a simple rationalization as to why.
The research hypothesizes that regenerative braking could possibly be accountable. Particularly, it calls out the distinction in driving dynamics when driving an EV in single-pedal mode versus utilizing friction braking to decelerate an ICE-powered automotive. Regardless of EVs gaining popularity, they nonetheless solely make up round 8% of recent car gross sales, so drivers—you understand, those tailgating you whereas weaving out and in of visitors—may not be prepared for an EV’s regenerative braking to do its factor when the motive force lifts off the fuel pedal abruptly.
Let’s speak turkey whereas we’re right here. Entrance-end collisions are considerably dearer to repair than being hit within the rear. The research estimates that restore prices are, on common, round 40% greater for front-end crashes, making EVs an surprising ally on this division. The flip facet is that they are nonetheless dearer within the store and take longer to restore.
This could possibly be because of the overwhelmingly excessive use of OEM elements to finish restores. The research goes on to level out that 90.3% of elements utilized in BEV repairs are OEM elements instantly from the producer. ICE automobiles use round 64.4%, which helps to chop down on prices. And to rub salt within the wound, fewer elements could be repaired as an alternative of changed in EVs (12.4% vs 13.9%, respectively).
These stats do not imply that EVs are getting totaled at the next price than ICE. The truth is, the whole loss frequency is almost the identical, differing by lower than one-tenth of a %. Nevertheless, the typical whole lack of an EV is greater at $32,718 for BEVs in Q3 versus $31,070 for mannequin yr 2021 and newer ICE vehicles.
It is solely a matter of time earlier than refreshed fuel vehicles get geared up with comparable tech that helps keep away from these embarrassing “whoops” moments behind the wheel. For now, you’ll be able to a minimum of really feel a bit of bit safer pulling as much as a crimson mild when an EV is behind you—simply hope that the EV driver does not have a rushing ICE automotive arising behind it.
