They may be better for the environment, but burly EVs pose a greater threat to other road users.
Increasingly large and overweight electric vehicles are putting American motorists at risk, said National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy last week.
Homendy was addressing delegates at the Transportation Research Board's 2023 annual meeting when she touched on the topic of heavy EVs and the dangers they pose to commuters in smaller vehicles. When you consider the fact that the GMC Hummer EV Pickup tips the scales at 9,063 pounds, it's easy to see what Homendy is talking about.
“A Hummer EV weighs over 9,000 pounds, up from about 6,000 pounds. Its gross vehicle weight rating is a staggering 10,550 pounds. The battery pack alone weighs over 2,900 pounds – about the weight of a Honda Civic,” said Homendy.
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The Hummer's portly curb weight came under fire after a study found the electric pickup more polluting than a modest gas-powered sedan like the Chevy Malibu. GMC issued a statement shortly after the study was published, noting that the Hummer has attracted new customers to the EV fold. Hummer also stated that it's far more efficient than a comparable ICE-powered truck or SUV.
“I'm concerned about the increased risk of severe injury and death for all road users from heavier curb weights and increasing size, power, and performance of vehicles on our roads, including electric vehicles,” added Homendy.
It's not just the Hummer that the NTSB chair condemned. She noted that Ford's F-150 Lightning is significantly heavier than its non-electric counterpart, while regular cars like the XC40 Recharge are more than 30% heavier than similarly-sized ICE vehicles.
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Homendy made it clear that she isn't against electric vehicles and applauds the Administration's dedication to cutting emissions.
“We do have a climate crisis that needs to be addressed. The US transportation sector accounts for the largest portion of US greenhouse gas emissions, and I firmly believe it is a human right to breathe clean air. But we have to be careful that we aren't also creating unintended consequences: more death on our roads,” said Homendy.
Modern electric trucks, such as the Rivian R1T, are adept at protecting those on board. Unfortunately, this doesn't translate to other road users. Trucks and SUVs already pose a greater risk to other road users, and the heavy batteries needed to move electric variants around only exacerbate the issue.
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In fact, the IIHS has even taken to evaluating its crash test system to determine whether it can fend off repeated attacks from the new brace of heavyweight EVs.
“We're fighting for the 43,000 people who die on our roads annually and the millions more who are injured – not just drivers, but all road users. No matter their race, ethnicity, ability, income, or where they live. No matter whether they're walking, biking, rolling, or driving. That is who the NTSB is fighting for, who we're all fighting for,” added Homendy.
With solid-state batteries edging closer to fruition, there's a good chance that electric vehicle mass will be significantly reduced in the years to come. Solid-state batteries are more energy-dense, reducing battery size while retaining the same mileage on a full charge.
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Source Credits: National Transport Safety Board
Keyword: NTSB Chair Slams Heavy Full-Size Electric Trucks Over Safety Concerns