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Surprised to see electric cars on the list of lowest other driver deaths. I always thought their additional weight made them more dangerous to other drivers.
by FriedPickles 2y ago
Surprised to see electric cars on the list of lowest other driver deaths. I always thought their additional weight made them more dangerous to other drivers.
- bryanlarsen 2y agoThe popular electric cars aren't significantly heavier than other cars in their class. For instance, a Tesla Model 3 and a BMW 3 series have very comparable weights. An F-150 Lightning Lariat is less than 10% heavier than a F-150 Hybrid Lariat. Yes, the electric HUMMER is crazy heavy. But electric cars are sold by range, and weight kills range, so the EVs that sell well are the lighter models.
- seanmcdirmid 2y agoMore battery gives you more range and therefore more weight, which then takes away range. But the extra weight of an EV is a heavier battery than an engine/fuel tank. A BMW i4 is 4,600 pounds, vs an ice 4 series 3500 to 4000 pounds.
- bryanlarsen 2y agoThe i4 is built on a shared platform. It's heavier than it would be as a purpose built EV.
- seanmcdirmid 2y agoYes, but I’m comparing against the ICE built on the same platform, if that makes it a more even comparison.
- bryanlarsen 2y agoYes, poorly designed EV's are heavy. Which is a shame, because the i3 was a lovely, light EV.
- seanmcdirmid 2y agoThe i4 is kind of a boat for sure, 700 pounds more than a model 3.
- trhway 2y agoI'd think that the "skateboard" architecture with even typical crumple zoning would make them more safe for the both - the driver and the other driver - than the typical front-engine layout of an ICE car which is really like a ram (until special measures are taken to drop the engine down or something similar during the impact). Plus the EVs drive better - better acceleration plus regenerative braking (so you can always slow down without wasting the energy/fuel thus driving more defensively more naturally), so you're much more in control of the situation. For example EVs are much better at doing the STOP correctly - as the low speed torgue is high, so you're really comfortable doing the real legal STOP.
- daghamm 2y agoI recall EV drivers end up in more accidents. This may in fact be due to the higher acceleration. There is a reason EV insurance is that much more expensive than ICE.