Electric vehicles are typically a lot heavier than their combustion engine equivalents.
With batteries adding additional bulk, but also the demand for longer ranges between charges resulting in manufacturers installing more extensive power banks, there have been growing concerns that these greener machines pose a greater risk to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users when collisions occur.
However, new research by the University of Leeds suggests EVs are no more dangerous than traditional petrol and diesel cars.
In a groundbreaking study looking into UK crashes involving pedestrians and cars, it found no significant difference in the casualty rates between EVs and conventional vehicles.
It also found that in these crashes, injuries sustained by pedestrians were no more severe when caused by an EV than a non-electric car – despite the additional bulk of the battery vehicle.
Zia Wadud, Professor of Mobility and Energy Futures at Leeds, said he hoped the findings would ‘dispel any misconceptions around electric vehicles’ safety’.
Research by the University of Leeds suggests EVs are no more dangerous than traditional petrol and diesel cars
He added: ‘There were two worries about EVs and road safety. First, whether EVs would increase the number of collisions with pedestrians because they were quieter than traditional vehicles.
‘Second, where there is a collision, whether the injuries to the pedestrians would be more severe when involving an EV because the vehicles are heavier.
‘Our results show that this is not the case.’
He went on to conclude: ‘These findings suggest we can reassure the public and policy makers that not only are EVs better for the planet, but they also pose no greater risk to pedestrians than current petrol or diesel vehicles on the road.’
The researchers behind the report analysed around 250 billion miles driven by cars in the UK each year.
It found that the average pedestrian casualty rates were 57.8 for EVs and 58.9 for non-electric vehicles, per billion miles of driving, between the years 2019 and 2023.
One possible explanation for the findings, Professor Wadud suggests, is that because most of the EV fleet is much newer and more expensive, the vehicles generally have better safety technologies than most internal combustion engine vehicles on the road today, which help them to evade crashes or limit impact.
In a groundbreaking study looking into UK crashes involving pedestrians and cars, the University of Leeds found no significant difference in the casualty rates between EVs and conventional vehicles
The average pedestrian casualty rates involving EVs in the UK between 2019 and 2023 was 57.8 for EVs and 58.9 for non-electric vehicles, per billion miles of driving
The study also found that injuries sustained by pedestrians were no more severe when caused by an EV than a non-electric car – despite the additional bulk of the battery vehicle
The study calculated that EVs typically weigh approximately 0.3 metric tonnes more than their combustion engine equivalents as a result of their heavier battery packs.
This is the equivalent additional weight of around five washing machines.
However, despite the extra bulk the study found no statistical evidence that EV-related injuries were more severe.
It also said that the likelihood of EVs being involved in more collisions with pedestrians who can’t hear them coming is no longer an issue.
‘Early EVs were initially known for being very quiet, which raised fears about more low-speed accidents involving pedestrians. However, since July 2019. all new types of electric and hybrid vehicles must be fitted with Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS), meaning they emit a sound when moving, reducing the risk,’ it said.
While the study seemingly spared EVs from being a greater threat, Professor Wadud said that the prominence of large SUV models – both combustion and electric – was a far larger concern.
‘We should worry less about the potential dangers of electrified vehicles and more about the growing prevalence of SUVs on the nation’s roads,’ he said, echoing other recent reports that have attempted to highlight the risk of 4X4-style cars posing a greater hazard.
‘Whether electric or conventionally powered, these larger, heavier vehicles not only pose greater safety risks, they also take up more road space and emit more carbon over their lifecycle.’
While heavier EVs are said to be no greater risk to pedestrians than conventional petrol and diesel cars, DfT statistics show the hybrids are potentially a greater threat
Professor Wadud contends the higher casualty rates among hybrid cars (HEVs) could be due to their substantial use as private hire vehicles in the UK
Hybrids do have a higher casualty rate… here’s why
While the study found that EVs are less of a crash safety risk to pedestrians, hybrid do have an elevated, risk, the University of Leeds report established.
Hybrid cars are seen as the stepping stone between combustion and electric, with the vehicles combining a traditional engine and a battery to provide some driving in electric-only mode.
For conventional ‘self-charging’ hybrids with smaller batteries, this can be a handful of miles, while for plug-in hybrids with larger battery packs, it can be up to 90 miles.
The analysis of the Department for Transport’s crash data showed collisions involving hybrids and pedestrian had a higher casualty rates than EVs and conventional vehicles – 120.14 per billion miles.
However, Professor Wadud contends this could be due to their substantial use as private hire vehicles in the UK.
This means they clock up far greater mileage than the average car, and are predominantly driven in and around city centres, increasing the chance of crashes involving pedestrians.
However, while hybrids are involved in more collisions, injuries tend to be less severe than those caused by conventional cars, the report said.