- EVs are less likely to rear-end other cars thanks to improved frontal collision avoidance tech
- They are, however, more likely to be rear-ended
- EVs still take more time and are more expensive to repair versus gas-powered cars
It turns out that driving an EV could make you less of a road hazard—at least from behind. A new study shows that EVs are racking up fewer and fewer front-end collisions compared to their gas-powered counterparts. The data shows that ICE cars are, on average, 6% more likely to be involved in a repairable front-end collision than EVs (32% vs 26%, respectively). So what's the secret, exactly? Well, it's all that fancy new driver-assistance tech!
Let's dive into why EVs are winning this battle. The major reason is just how new EVs are to market; fresh-off-the-line EVs on the road have a newer average model year compared to most gas-powered models. This means newer and more refreshed tech planted in EVs—lane-keeping, front-crash avoidance systems, and automatic emergency braking—are all doing their job quite well and padding the stats in the EVs' favor.
Interestingly, while repairable EVs are less likely to hit a vehicle from the front, they're more likely to be plowed into from the rear. The study shows that 36% of BEV repairs are for rear-end impacts versus 28% of ICE vehicles. This sounds like such a weird statistic, doesn't it? But stay with me here, because there might be an easy explanation as to why.
The study hypothesizes that regenerative braking could be to blame. Specifically, it calls out the difference in driving dynamics when driving an EV in single-pedal mode versus using friction braking to slow down an ICE-powered car. Despite EVs becoming more popular, they still only make up around 8% of new vehicle sales, so drivers—you know, the ones tailgating you while weaving in and out of traffic—might not be ready for an EV's regenerative braking to do its thing when the driver lifts off the gas pedal abruptly.
Let's talk turkey while we're here. Front-end collisions are significantly more expensive to fix than being hit in the rear. The study estimates that repair costs are, on average, around 40% higher for front-end crashes, making EVs an unexpected ally in this department. The flip side is that they're still more expensive in the shop and take longer to repair.
This could be due to the overwhelmingly high use of OEM parts to complete repairs. The study goes on to point out that 90.3% of parts used in BEV repairs are OEM parts directly from the manufacturer. ICE vehicles use around 64.4%, which helps to cut down on costs. And to rub salt in the wound, fewer parts can be repaired instead of replaced in EVs (12.4% vs 13.9%, respectively).
These stats don't mean that EVs are getting totaled at a higher rate than ICE. In fact, the total loss frequency is nearly the same, differing by less than one-tenth of a percent. However, the average total loss of an EV is higher at $32,718 for BEVs in Q3 versus $31,070 for model year 2021 and newer ICE cars.
It's only a matter of time before refreshed gas cars get equipped with similar tech that helps avoid those embarrassing "whoops" moments behind the wheel. For now, you can at least feel a little bit more secure pulling up to a red light when an EV is behind you—just hope that the EV driver doesn't have a speeding ICE car coming up behind it.
