Although we still do not have flying cars, we do have electric cars, which have been gaining popularity in recent years. Much of the hype about electric cars surrounds their relatively low cost and their positive impact on the environment.
But let’s consider the other side of the coin: are electric cars safe for drivers and their occupants? If not, what are the dangers associated with electric cars? While the fact that electric cars are environment-friendly cannot be denied, and these cars are indeed sold for a lower price than their gas-powered counterparts, there are some dangers and risks associated with driving electric cars.
Today, our Allentown Electric Car Accident Attorney at The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C., is going to spill the beans on the dangers of electric vehicles.
The Risk of Explosion When Driving an Electric Car
The biggest difference between electric cars and regular cars is that the latter run on gasoline, while the former have no gasoline. Because electric cars do not need gasoline, there is no gas emission exhaust, which has a positive impact on the environment.
Besides, vehicles that are equipped with gas tanks have the risk of explosion in the event of a Car Accident in Allentown. While electric cars do not carry this type of hazard, they have another hazard: lithium-ion batteries, which are basically the reason why electric vehicles work.
Interestingly, those lithium-ion batteries are very similar to the batteries in a cell phone. As you may or may not know, cell phone batteries carry an explosion risk, which even prompted airlines to ban certain cell phones. As you may have guessed, there is an increased explosion risk when driving an electric car, since these cars have much bigger and powerful batteries than those found in cell phones.
Since electric cars carry an explosion risk due to their lithium-ion batteries, manufacturers of electric cars have implemented various ways to minimize the risk of battery explosion. For example, Volvo installs these batteries in the part of the vehicle that is least likely to be damaged in a car accident, while Tesla features a mechanism that automatically shuts down the batteries when an impact sensor sends a signal.
The Risk of Colliding with Pedestrians and Bicyclists
The fact that electric cars are less noisy than gas-powered vehicles has always been considered one of the benefits of driving an electric car. However, what many tend to forget is that the noise produced by a motor vehicle helps pedestrians and bicyclists avoid a potentially fatal collision with a vehicle because they can hear the vehicle approaching.
“In this regard, electric cars are much more dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists than gas-powered vehicles,” says our Experienced Electric Car Accident Attorney in Allentown. In fact, according to the National Institute of Highway Safety (NIHS), electric cars are 37 times more likely to hit pedestrians and 66 times more likely to hit bicyclists than standard vehicles.
Also, let’s not forget the fact that electric cars tend to be heavier than gas-powered vehicles, which means they can cause more severe injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists they hit.
The Risk of Electrocution when Driving an Electric Vehicle
Typically, the battery packs used on electric cars can generate from 200 to 330 volts, which is more than enough to be deadly if a motorist touches the bare battery cables while being grounded. People may also die where there is a short-circuit in the system of an electric car.
Since electric cars need to be charged at special charging stations, it’s important to mention the potential risk of electrocution at these charging stations, which can generate up to 500 volts.
Electric cars are a relatively fresh phenomenon, and Pennsylvania’s legal system may still be lagging behind in some aspects surrounding car accidents involving electric cars. That’s why being represented by an Allentown Electric Car Accident Attorney is highly advised regardless of what caused your Car Crash. Talk to our lawyers at The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C., to receive a free consultation today. Call at (215)-799-9990