Safe For Users, Electric Cars Can Hazard Other Car Users, How Come?

The GMC Hummer EV SUV weighs up to 1.3 tons, far exceeding the average ICE cars. (Doc. GMC)

JAKARTA - Electric cars (EVs) have recently become increasingly popular and many testing institutions in the world have proven that this electric car is very safe to use. However, did you know that EVs can actually be dangerous for other drivers on the highway? Yes, this is because the EV weight is much heavier than a gasoline car.

On average, electric vehicles weighing between 20 and 50 percent heavier than gasoline-fueled vehicles because the batteries alone can weigh almost the same as a small standard car.

According to experts, EVs do have a high safety rating. The heavy battery makes car construction stronger so that passengers are better protected when an accident occurs. The Institute for Highway Safety Safety (IIHS) in the United States (US), for example, recorded claims of injury to EV passengers 40 percent lower than gasoline cars (2011-2019).

However, this only applies to drivers and EV passengers. The heavy weight of the EV could actually endanger the driver and other car passengers involved in the accident with the EV.

According to a Dailymail report, quoted on May 2, a professor of engine engineering from the University of Michigan named Jingwen Hu likened EV collisions to gasoline cars such as heavy truck accidents with tiny sedans. A lighter gasoline car will be crushed by an EV.

He said this was because when there was a collision, the heavier car absorbed less impact energy. As a result, the energy is absorbed by the car which is lighter, making the damage and injury worse.

In addition, heavy EV weight can also be fatal for cyclists and pedestrians. The reason is, EV sounds are quieter than gasoline cars at low speeds. This makes pedestrians and cyclists difficult to hear EV arrivals.

In fact, experts are also worried that the current road divider fence will not be able to withstand EV collisions because it is designed to hold the car with a maximum weight of 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg).

Car manufacturers need to innovate to reduce the risk EVs pose to other road users. Several ways that can be done according to him are:

Although the potential is dangerous, electric cars remain a solution to reduce exhaust emissions. With continued safety innovation, electric cars can be a safe vehicle for all road users.