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Electric car drivers involved in more road crashes but vehicle isn’t to blame, says study
Electric vehicles are on the rise thanks to improved fuel economy and reduced emissions among other benefits. However, people driving them are at higher risk of road accidents.
Road crashes are scary and even fatal in most instances. Although a recent study shows that drivers behind electric cars are more prone to crashes, the issue doesn’t lie in the vehicle.
Drivers of electric vehicles more at fault in road crashes
The research led by the Research Ireland Centre for Software, at the University of Limerick and Universit�t de Barcelona, reveals that people driving electric vehicles go for at-fault insurance claims more than others who drive petrol or diesel vehicles.
The researchers analyzed the insurance claims and data from onboard sensors for the study, which is due to be published in the November issue of the journal�Accident Analysis & Prevention.
The three key findings, according to EurekAlert, include:
- Drivers of electric vehicles exhibit different behavior on the road than non-electric vehicle drivers.
- Electric vehicles also record more at-fault claims.
- Repairing electric vehicles is 6.7% more expensive than fixing traditional vehicles.
Though an electric vehicle offers lower average mileage than ICE (internal combustion engine), drivers controlling the former experience a 4% increase in crashes. Meanwhile, it’s a 6% increase for hybrids (HYBs).
Study states drivers’ driving behavior is the reason
The analysis of both EVs and HYBs further proved that the latter does not show “any further concerns of increased at-fault claim risk.”, but that’s not the case with EVs.
“Our research shows drivers’ driving behavior changes significantly when switching to hybrids or EVs.�These results mean EVs are more likely to experience an at-fault claim than internal combustion engines, added Dr Sheehan, Associate Professor in Risk and Finance at UL.
Furthermore, EVs give lesser mileage, and the drivers incur significant first-party damages, and battery costs while at higher risk of road crashes.
Despite the well-known benefits of electric vehicles, the study notes that owners will incur a “higher financial burden than petrol and diesel cars.”
