How Safe Are Electric Cars?

Addressing Electric Car Safety Concerns

In a general sense, people love things that are new and intriguing. We always have, and we always will be drawn to things that we have never experienced. However, in this same vein, people are generally wary of anything new and unknown. This is the same approach that many have used when discussing electric cars. Electric cars are steadily making the automotive industry more exciting, and they have become a staple in many homes across the country. It is not exactly surprising or difficult to see why they have become so popular.

These cars have crafted a nice little pocket of space for themselves within the automotive industry, but they are still far off from becoming the go-to vehicle for every person who needs to get around. The main reasons behind this are because there are still many modifications and enhancements being added on to these cars, and there are also numerous safety concerns due to how novel these cars are. Let’s take a look at how just how safe electric cars are in comparison to more traditional motor vehicles.

Battery Fires

Ever since the first electric car was made available, there have been questions about its safety as compared to traditional forms of transportation. There was a major concern about electric cars being vulnerable to electric fires. The main risk that is posed by electric cars stems from the battery pack. In most cases, these battery packs provide an extra layer of protection for the electric car. However, if the battery pack is exposed to severe external damage it could lead to an electrical short, which could start a fire.

However, this does not actually make electric cars more likely to catch fire than conventional vehicles. On the contrary, there are still more car fires that are attributed to gasoline-powered vehicles. Electric cars undergo intense and rigorous safety testing in order to make sure that they meet the basic safety standards that are desired for traditional vehicles. In addition to this, these vehicles must also undergo specific safety tests that help limit chemical battery spills, keep the battery secure during an accident and prevent electric shortages.

Vehicle Weight

As was stated above, Electric cars go through rigorous safety checks to make sure that they are ready for road use. These safety checks involve making sure that the vehicle does not pose a threat to

anyone sharing the road. Electric cars are not only designed with efficiency in mind, but also safety. These cars are much heavier than conventional vehicles, with most of their extra weight placed underneath the floor of the vehicle. That means that they have a lower center of gravity. If a driver makes a sharp turn, or finds himself or herself in a full on skid, it is less likely that their vehicle will turnover if it is an electric car.

Dangerously Quiet

There has been some concern about the silent operation of electric cars. This concern is geared more towards pedestrians than it is to drivers. Some people believe that the silent operation of these cars will make it hard for pedestrians to be aware of the vehicle’s location and this could greatly impact pedestrian safety. In response to this, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun work on some methods to curb this, such as requiring electric cars to emit audible sounds while operating at low speeds. This option is already available on many electric cars across the country.

IoT Connectivity

The amount of connectivity that electric cars have compared to conventional cars has also raised some concern amongst the public. The thing about making something new is that you get the chance to try out other new things alongside it. This rings true for electric cars as well. Since their debut, electric cars have accommodated smart technology in the hopes that these two entities will help create the car of the future. The smart technology within some of these new electric cars makes them capable of amazing things, while leaving them vulnerable to others.

With the Internet of Things (IoT) on the rise, electric cars with smart capabilities have also been receiving criticism because of the ability for cybercriminals to remotely hack into cars, leaving drivers exposed. Several smart cars have been hacked in the past year, mostly by hackers who are working to help car manufacturers increase the security on their vehicles. In other instances, these vehicles have been hacked by random individuals who just wanted to see if they could pull it off.

Charging Vulnerabilities

Electric cars can also be left exposed because of their charging stations. This is because of the combination of a physical security attack and a cybersecurity attack known as the substitution attack. This attack gives attackers the ability to digitally clone and use an electric car’s ‘identity.’ This tends to happen because public charging stations do not have the same end-to-end security protocols in place. Essentially, anyone can hook a car up to a public charging station and make use of it. This opens up the doorway to hackers who may want to exploit the vulnerability.

Conclusion

Electric cars are great! There are many benefits that they bring to the table, and they are a good alternative for drivers who value fuel efficiency. It will very likely take a good amount of time before

electric cars replace conventional cars as the majority of preferred motor vehicles across the world. However, this will not be because of their safety features. It simply will be because it takes time. The security features of electric cars are not in any way sub-standard, they are merely new measures that have been put in place for new cars.

In comparison to more conventional cars, electric cars match up equally in terms of security and safety; they only fall short when it comes to cyber security. The good thing about being closely matched in physical security is that if you happen to lock your keys in your car, it is still going to be possible for a car locksmith to get them out for you. Cybersecurity is a safety aspect that conventional cars also have to be wary of, so it doesn’t make electric cars any less safe than a conventional car. The electric car industry has promptly made amends to any safety issues that have arisen since the inception of electric cars, so it seems to be that safety is a top priority for them.