Features/ Tg-explains/ Electric Vehicles Safety During Accidents | Cautious Or Suspicious?

Electric Vehicles Safety During Accidents | Cautious Or Suspicious?

Believe it or not, everything on wheels possess a threat of safety. It would be a world of distant dreams when the transportation would be completely  accident resistant.However the severity of threat can only be minimized but can not be eliminated. When it comes to electric vehicles , range anxiety is not only in question , but the battery condition and its safety  is also a point of worry. 

Electric cars are fundamentally a lot more different in many ways, and so are their accidents repercussions. And if you are concerned about catching fire after the crash , well here is a point - cars of all kinds catch fire , whether it is gasoline or battery powered. In case of Lithium-Ion batteries, the energy density is more and electrolyte used has explosive characters , so the chances of thermal runaway is prevalent. However, to combat such issues, manufacturers use precautionary measures like the use of fuses and circuit breakers to protect the battery from excessive current flow and short circuits.There is a special device called  Pyrofuse, which disconnects the high-voltage battery from the system so that the vehicle becomes shock proof. Moreover,the bigger small battery cells in a big battery are stacked smartly and are separated by each other via fire-resistant casing  preventing the spreading of fire. The batteries are well designed and engineered to tackle the crash , and the chances of it getting exploded is highly unlikely. 

Secondly , the EVs are naturally a bit more on a heavier side than conventional vehicles. And during any crash , one in an electric car will be comparatively safer and most importantly due to lower center of gravity , EVs resist roll over. In your context , the Nexon petrol model is around 200 kg lighter than its EV model, same is the case with XUV 400 and so is the case with many EVs. But this weight difference indirectly but is a threat to other conventional cars as during  collision, the heavier vehicle pushes lighter , and occupants in lighter cars are expected to experience more force than heavier vehicles. So, indirectly the protection shield for the EV owners comes at the expense of occupants in conventional cars. 

The extra weight also increases the stopping distance , and that possesses another threat , however due to improvement in technology and advancement of engineering some of these minor issues are well taken care of. And once more and more EVs are on the road , consumers will get used to the driving dynamics of it . And as far as the safety and crash testing goes - remember EVs are the biggest bet from automakers , and they make sure that their latest models are well equipped with better safety and crash prevention technology . As far as fire is concerned , the probability of EVs catching fire is almost  as similar to our gasoline cars . The era of making better cars and safer roads is taking rapid transformation, and it is a matter of time before consumers get well aware of the repercussions and case-factor of different mobility solutions. 

TopGear Magazine February 2024