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A survey conducted by Axa, an insurance company, has revealed over 50% more traffic accidents involving electric cars than traditional petrol or diesel engines. However, a prominent Westchester car accident lawyer suggests that the blame shouldn’t be placed on the technology itself. Instead, it appears to be largely connected to the drivers and their adjustments to this new technology.
Electric Vehicles Leap into Action
Electric vehicles have a very different acceleration process compared to traditional petrol and diesel cars. It’s often described as quicker and more immediate, which can surprise even skilled drivers when they try out an electric car for the first time, possibly leading to accidents. As the push for environmentally friendly transportation means more people are choosing to replace their cars with electric vehicles, it’s important to address this issue to prevent it from worsening. Michael Pfaffi, the head of accidents and prevention at Axa, has highlighted this distinction, and crash test data from the company shows just how rapidly electric cars can accelerate.
Do We Need to Retest or Have EV Driving Lessons?
One solution involves teaching drivers how to adjust their driving habits. The fast acceleration of electric cars can surprise many individuals, meaning they often pull away more rapidly than they intend. This means that quickly pressing the pedal to the floor to get away from traffic lights or roundabouts can lead to crashing into the vehicle ahead due to the sudden speed. It’s important that new EV drivers are warned about this new acceleration style, as it is likely to be the key to bringing down crash rates.
When an electric vehicle crashes into a conventional petrol or diesel car, the electric car tends to fare better due to its heavier weight. The substantial battery adds significant mass, and in the event of accidents, the greater weight often leads to more damage to the lighter vehicle. Insurance companies all seem to be showing the same data, in that the primary source of claims is coming from an electric vehicle accelerating too quickly from a stationary position and hitting the vehicle in front.
EVs Catch Fire Easily
One other potential problem causing insurance claims with electric cars is the risk of battery fires. If the batteries are struck from the rear or if the driver accelerates too aggressively, such as by speeding or driving over bumps and uneven surfaces, the batteries can literally catch fire. The biggest problem with lithium-ion batteries is that extinguishing a fire is exceptionally challenging. Although you might assume there are only a couple of batteries in your car, an electric vehicle typically houses more than 1000 batteries. To put out a fire, the fire brigade’s best tactic is to submerge the car in water and leave it there for an extended period, often days. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always completely resolve the issue, as there have been numerous instances where the car catches fire again after being taken out of the water. This poses a significant challenge to both emergency services and vehicle manufacturers, but a solution has not yet been found.
