- EVs are much less prone to rear-end different vehicles because of improved frontal collision avoidance tech
- They’re, nevertheless, extra prone to be rear-ended
- EVs nonetheless take extra time and are dearer to restore versus gas-powered vehicles
It seems that driving an EV may make you much less of a street hazard—at the least from behind. A new examine reveals that EVs are racking up fewer and fewer front-end collisions in comparison with their gas-powered counterparts. The info reveals that ICE vehicles 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? Nicely, it is all that fancy new driver-assistance tech!
Let’s dive into why EVs are profitable this battle. The key motive is simply how new EVs are to market; fresh-off-the-line EVs on the street have a more moderen common mannequin yr in comparison with most gas-powered fashions. This implies newer and extra refreshed tech planted in EVs—lane-keeping, front-crash avoidance programs, and computerized emergency braking—are all doing their job fairly nicely and padding the stats within the EVs’ favor.
Picture by: Tesla
Curiously, whereas repairable EVs are much less prone to hit a car from the entrance, they’re extra prone to be plowed into from the rear. The examine reveals that 36% of BEV repairs are for rear-end impacts versus 28% of ICE autos. This appears like such a bizarre statistic, does not it? However stick with me right here, as a result of there is perhaps a simple rationalization as to why.
The examine hypothesizes that regenerative braking might 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 automotive. Regardless of EVs rising in popularity, they nonetheless solely make up round 8% of latest car gross sales, so drivers—you already know, 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 speak turkey whereas we’re right here. Entrance-end collisions are considerably dearer to repair than being hit within the rear. The examine estimates that restore prices are, on common, round 40% increased 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 might be because of the overwhelmingly excessive use of OEM components to finish restores. The examine goes on to level out that 90.3% of components utilized in BEV repairs are OEM components straight from the producer. ICE autos use round 64.4%, which helps to chop down on prices. And to rub salt within the wound, fewer components could 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 a better fee than ICE. The truth is, the whole loss frequency is sort of the identical, differing by lower than one-tenth of a %. Nonetheless, the typical whole lack of an EV is increased at $32,718 for BEVs in Q3 versus $31,070 for mannequin yr 2021 and newer ICE vehicles.
It is solely a matter of time earlier than refreshed fuel vehicles 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 somewhat bit safer pulling as much as a purple gentle when an EV is behind you—simply hope that the EV driver does not have a rushing ICE automotive arising behind it.
