- EVs are much less more likely to rear-end different automobiles because of improved frontal collision avoidance tech
- They’re, nevertheless, extra more likely to be rear-ended
- EVs nonetheless take extra time and are dearer to restore versus gas-powered automobiles
It seems that driving an EV may make you much less of a highway hazard—no less than from behind. A new research reveals that EVs are racking up fewer and fewer front-end collisions in comparison with their gas-powered counterparts. The information reveals that ICE automobiles 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 profitable this battle. The most important purpose is simply how new EVs are to market; fresh-off-the-line EVs on the highway have a more moderen common mannequin 12 months in comparison with most gas-powered fashions. This implies newer and extra refreshed tech planted in EVs—lane-keeping, front-crash avoidance techniques, and automated emergency braking—are all doing their job fairly effectively and padding the stats within the EVs’ favor.
Picture by: Tesla
Curiously, whereas repairable EVs are much less more likely to hit a automobile from the entrance, they’re extra more likely to be plowed into from the rear. The research reveals that 36% of BEV repairs are for rear-end impacts versus 28% of ICE automobiles. This seems like such a bizarre statistic, would not it? However stick with me right here, as a result of there is perhaps a simple clarification as to why.
The research hypothesizes that regenerative braking may very well 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 automobile. Regardless of EVs rising in popularity, they nonetheless solely make up round 8% of recent automobile gross sales, so drivers—you realize, 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 gasoline pedal abruptly.
Let’s discuss 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 may very well 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 straight 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 a substitute of changed in EVs (12.4% vs 13.9%, respectively).
These stats do not imply that EVs are getting totaled at the next charge than ICE. In truth, the overall loss frequency is sort of the identical, differing by lower than one-tenth of a %. Nevertheless, the common whole lack of an EV is greater at $32,718 for BEVs in Q3 versus $31,070 for mannequin 12 months 2021 and newer ICE automobiles.
It is solely a matter of time earlier than refreshed gasoline automobiles get outfitted with comparable tech that helps keep away from these embarrassing “whoops” moments behind the wheel. For now, you may no less than really feel a bit of bit safer pulling as much as a pink gentle when an EV is behind you—simply hope that the EV driver would not have a dashing ICE automobile arising behind it.
