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The , but many people worry about the safety of today’s electric vehicles.

Public opinion about EV crash safety often hinges on a few . Those safety concerns are arguably misplaced, and the actual safety of EVs is more nuanced.

I’ve for more than two decades, focusing on the biomechanics of impact injuries in motor vehicle crashes. Here’s my take on how well the current crop of EVs protects people:

The burning question

EVs and internal combustion vehicles undergo the same crash-testing procedures to evaluate their crashworthiness and occupant protection. These tests are conducted by the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Highway Safety Administration’s and the .

These analyses use crash test dummies representing midsize male and small female occupants to evaluate the risk of injuries. The tests can evaluate fire hazard either caused by or gas tank leaks of internal combustion vehicles.

None of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests of EVs have sparked any fires. New Car Assessment Program crash test reports yield comparable findings. While real-world data analysis on is limited, it appears that media and social media scrutiny of EV fire hazard is blown out of proportion.

Weighty matters

What stands out about EV safety is that crash test results, field injury data and injury claims from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety all reveal that EVs are superior to their internal combustion counterparts in protecting their occupants.

This EV advantage boils down to a blend of physics and cutting-edge technologies.

Thanks to their hefty battery packs positioned at the base of the car, EVs tend to and enjoy lower centers of gravity than conventional vehicles. This setup drastically reduces the likelihood of rollover accidents, which have a . Moreover, crash dynamics dictate that in a collision between two vehicles, the heavier one holds a distinct advantage because it doesn’t slow down as abruptly, a factor strongly linked to occupant injury risks.

On the technology side, most EVs represent newer models equipped with state-of-the-art safety systems, from advanced energy-absorbing materials to and upgraded seat-belt and air-bag setups. These features collectively bolster occupant protection.

Where risks do rise

Unfortunately, EVs also present numerous safety challenges.

While the inherent weightiness of EVs offers a natural advantage in protecting occupants, it also means that of absorbing more crash energy in collisions with heavier EVs. This dilemma is central to the concept of “,” a well-established field of safety research.

Consider a scenario in which a small sedan collides with a heavy truck. The occupants in the sedan always face higher injury risks. Crash compatibility studies measure vehicle “” by the level of harm inflicted on other vehicles, and heavier models .

In addition, the increased energy associated with impacts from heavier EVs, particularly electric pickups, poses . Moreover, EVs – especially those operating silently at low speeds – pose who may not hear the EVs approach.

Better technologies, better safety

While EVs offer safety advancements for their own occupants, it’s crucial to acknowledge and tackle the safety concerns they pose for others on the road.

I believe that technological advancements will serve as the primary catalyst for overcoming the safety hurdles faced by EVs. Lightweight materials, , improved seat belts and better air bags will play pivotal roles in addressing these challenges.

Moreover, the tight connection between EVs and rapidly evolving computing capabilities is likely to foster the development of new safety technologies.

Jingwen Hu receives funding from several government agencies, including the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Highway Traffic Safety Administration, ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Science Foundation and Department of Defense. He has received funding from the auto industry, including Ford, GM, Toyota and Honda. He is affiliated with SAE International and the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine.