Now that electric vehicles are becoming more widely adopted, experts are keeping a closer eye on how they operate and how they fit into the system. With countless incidents involving electric vehicles, a study showed that EVs are more dangerous on the road than the traditional gas car.
Accident-Prone EVs
Just as electric vehicles are becoming the preferred type of vehicle for being eco-friendly and costing less with the lack of need for gas, the negative aspects are starting to show and are becoming harder to ignore.
In the mentioned study, British road traffic accidents have been analyzed where EVs and hybrids were more likely to hit pedestrians compared to gas-powered cars. This was especially the case in the city, where it is three times more dangerous, as per Gizmodo.
There are a lot of factors to consider as to why this is the case, but there is no definite answer that concludes why EVs have become the more dangerous vehicles. One is that EVs are usually found in city centers where more pedestrians can be found.
While the electric vehicle's quiet operation is one of its selling points, it can also be the reason why people do not hear it coming. Pedestrians are used to hearing the hum of an engine and know that they need to step aside if needed, and EVs are as quiet as they go.
It was also speculated that younger drivers, including those with less experience on the road and driving in general, tend to purchase EVs or hybrids since it is the new must-have in the car industry. Combining that and a quiet car could prove to be a dangerous situation.
One of the authors of the study and professor of epidemiology and statistics at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Phil Edwards said "The government needs to mitigate these risks if they are going to phase out the sale of petrol and diesel cars."
"They are much quieter than the old-fashioned cars, and pedestrians have learned to navigate roads by listening for traffic. Drivers of these vehicles need to be extra cautious," the professor continued, also pointing out that an EV driver should keep in mind that it's a "new kind of vehicle."
EVs Are Starting to Look Like the Bad Choice
Previously advertised as an environmentally-friendly vehicle, as well as a way to save costs on fuel, EVs were all the rage and people were convinced that they would save more in the long run. However, that is no longer how it's shaping up to be.
Some have discovered that EVs may cost more in terms of maintenance. Not only that, but electric cars tend to have a higher depreciation rate as opposed to combustion engine cars, which means they would be at a huge loss if they intend to sell for a new car.
It doesn't help that with EVs being relatively new, there are still a few kinks to work out, especially with models that have self-driving capabilities. It has been the cause of several accidents ranging from simple road obstructions to causing injury to a pedestrian.
