- EVs are much less prone to rear-end different automobiles because of improved frontal collision avoidance tech
- They’re, nevertheless, extra prone 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—at the least from behind. A new examine exhibits that EVs are racking up fewer and fewer front-end collisions in comparison with their gas-powered counterparts. The info exhibits that ICE automobiles are, on common, 6% extra prone to be concerned in a repairable front-end collision than EVs (32% vs 26%, respectively). So what is the secret, precisely? Effectively, it is all that fancy new driver-assistance tech!
Let’s dive into why EVs are successful this battle. The most important purpose is simply how new EVs are to market; fresh-off-the-line EVs on the street 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 prone to hit a automobile from the entrance, they’re extra prone to be plowed into from the rear. The examine exhibits that 36% of BEV repairs are for rear-end impacts versus 28% of ICE automobiles. This seems like such a bizarre statistic, does not it? However stick with me right here, as a result of there is likely to be a straightforward clarification as to why.
The examine hypothesizes that regenerative braking may very well be in charge. 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 gaining 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 driving force lifts off the fuel 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 examine estimates that restore prices are, on common, round 40% greater 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 may very well be as a result of overwhelmingly excessive use of OEM elements to finish restores. The examine 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 may 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 fee than ICE. In reality, the entire loss frequency is almost the identical, differing by lower than one-tenth of a %. Nonetheless, the common complete 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 fuel automobiles get geared up with related tech that helps keep away from these embarrassing “whoops” moments behind the wheel. For now, you possibly can at the least really feel a bit bit safer pulling as much as a crimson gentle when an EV is behind you—simply hope that the EV driver does not have a rushing ICE automobile developing behind it.
