The active development of electric vehicles has led to numerous comparisons of electric cars with conventional cars equipped with an internal combustion engine. They are compared from different points of view: environmental friendliness, mileage, price, ease of use, etc. One of the main comparison criteria is the safety of electric vehicles and cars with internal combustion engines. Below are research-based facts about electric cars that support their high level of safety.
Facts for the safety of electric vehicles
- Good handling and low risk of rollover in an accident. This result is provided by the location of the heavy battery under the floor of the car, as a result of which the center of gravity is shifted to the bottom.
- High crash test rates when simulating various collisions. In this case, the increased protection of the electric vehicle is provided by a strong steel frame and a well-thought-out design.
- Low risk of ignition. Of course, it is wrong to say that an electric car is completely fireproof. However, according to Tesla research, electric cars are about 11 times less likely to catch fire than cars with internal combustion engines.
- The slow fire spread. Recognizing that a car with an electric motor can burn in the same way as a gasoline counterpart, it is necessary to clarify that in the first case, the burning rate is much lower. This difference is the result of the absence of flammable liquids in an electric car (gasoline, diesel, oils), which in the case of a conventional car spreads and instantly ignites.
Additional Information! Even more information about the safety of electric cars, including in terms of their effect on humans, is set out in the articles on the pages of our blog.
Major Causes of Battery Fire
Unfortunately, the problem of electric vehicle battery ignition is not a myth, but a reality. However, here it is important to understand why this is happening, to determine the very essence of the problem. All the cases of battery fire detected to date are the result of emergencies or the result of damage to the battery, the bottom of the car during operation. To minimize these risks, battery cases are made of high-strength materials. They also additionally strengthen the bottoms of electric cars.
The battery takes a long time to ignite. This is due to the peculiarities of the processes taking place inside it. And while this is a serious problem. If the damage to the battery is not detected in time, then the chain of reactions occurring in it can lead to fire much later - even when the car is just parked.
Making electric vehicles fully protected from fire is one of the main goals of automakers. Security updates are released several times a year, and battery temperature control algorithms are supplemented. However, one of the main hopes in this direction is the transition from lithium-ion cells to solid-state ones.
Conclusion
The world's first car with an internal combustion engine appeared in 1885. For more than 130-year history of development, cars with a gasoline (diesel) engine have not become safe.
The first electric car appeared in 1841, but then this direction was not particularly in demand. Electric transport was actively developed already in the 60s of the 20th century. And now, for some 60 years, electric cars have already overtaken a conventional internal combustion engine in almost everything - ecology, innovation, reliability, safety. At the same time, the process of their improvement does not stop for a minute, including in terms of improving the level of safety. Therefore, the future development of electric vehicles is quite promising.