- EVs are much less more likely to rear-end different automobiles because of improved frontal collision avoidance tech
- They’re, nonetheless, extra more likely to be rear-ended
- EVs nonetheless take extra time and are costlier to restore versus gas-powered automobiles
It seems that driving an EV may make you much less of a street 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? Nicely, it is all that fancy new driver-assistance tech!
Let’s dive into why EVs are successful this battle. The main motive is simply how new EVs are to market; fresh-off-the-line EVs on the street have a more recent 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 methods, 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 car 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 autos. This feels like such a bizarre statistic, would not it? However stick with me right here, as a result of there could be a straightforward 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 rising in popularity, they nonetheless solely make up round 8% of latest car gross sales, so drivers—you recognize, 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 driving force lifts off the gasoline pedal abruptly.
Let’s discuss turkey whereas we’re right here. Entrance-end collisions are considerably costlier to repair than being hit within the rear. The research estimates that restore prices are, on common, round 40% increased for front-end crashes, making EVs an sudden ally on this division. The flip aspect is that they are nonetheless costlier 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 immediately from the producer. ICE autos 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 price than ICE. In reality, the entire loss frequency is sort of the identical, differing by lower than one-tenth of a %. Nonetheless, the common complete lack of an EV is increased 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’ll be able to no less than really feel slightly bit safer pulling as much as a crimson mild when an EV is behind you—simply hope that the EV driver would not have a rushing ICE automotive arising behind it.
