Are EVs unsafe and inefficient because of being heavier than conventional vehicles?

CLAIM

EVs are not safe and fuel-efficient as they are heavier than conventional vehicles. 

FACT

The extra weight of EVs actually makes them safer in terms of crash safety. Despite having more weight, EVs exhibit better fuel economy. 

WHAT THEY CLAIM

Social media posts claim that EVs being heavier than conventional vehicles are not safe. Such posts also claim that EVs also are not fuel efficient as they are heavier than petrol-diesel-driven vehicles.

WHAT WE FOUND

Batteries are heavy and that’s why EVs (Electric Vehicles) weigh considerably more than otherwise similar gasoline-powered vehicles. Manufacturers need to pack plenty of batteries into a car to store sufficient power to move it along at sensible speeds for more than 600 km. While petrol or diesel-powered cars are able to cover hundreds of kilometers with 60 kilos of fuel on board, a large-sized electric car like a Tesla Model X needs to carry over 500 kilograms of batteries for their function.

More Weight, More Stable

In an EV, the battery cell is typically shaped into an elongated, flat deck that runs almost the entire length of the car, usually beneath the seats. There are several advantages to putting the battery pack in that area. First of all, it helps in balancing the center of mass by getting the weight as low as possible in the car and it also reduces the center of gravity. It means that these electric cars are proven to be more stable and less likely to roll over in a case of a serious accident. Secondly, having the car’s power area underneath the cabin frees up ample space where usually engines, petrol pumps, fuel tanks, gearboxes, and more are present in a petrol or diesel car. Car engineers are utilizing that space to make the new breed of electric cars more practical, by adding loads of extra storage space and roomy interiors.

Will EVs get lighter in the future?

The answer is undoubtedly yes. Research shows that for each 10% reduction in weight, cars enjoy around 6 to 8% more fuel economy. This implies that car designers are working hard to introduce lightweight materials to eventually bring the overall weight of a car closer to what we have been used to driving.

In the future, we can expect to see the introduction of metals like magnesium – which is 75% lighter as compared to steel and is 100% recyclable – to reduce the weight of a car’s chassis and attached parts like suspension and wheels. Less bulky magnesium batteries are another focus area of research to include in a technology that, if successful, and in the future is able to provide longer range and stable charging.

Will EVs shed weight in the future?

New discoveries and development in chemistries, like technological innovation in solid-state batteries, would help electric cars shed many pounds in coming years. Also, expanded fast-charging networks will convince buyers that there is no need for such a large battery to get them around. Innovations like automatic emergency braking will help keep more road users safe. Thus, the use of electric vehicles should be encouraged by governments that would push people to buy smaller, more efficient vehicles with smart regulation.

Is the Extra Weight in the current EVs safe?

New materials are shaping the future of the automotive industry and the vehicles it manufactures. These new materials involve advantages such as the innovation of lightweight materials, increased durability and resistance to impact, cold, extreme heat, and other weather conditions, along with complex and elaborate shapes.

There are many discussions about the weight of new models and it has proved how it contributes to handling and efficiency, manufacturers seem not to be concerned just yet. And, at least for the driver and passengers, the weight of these cars helps keep them safe. Based on simple physics, the mass of these EVs work in their favor in the face of a collision. 

In terms of crash safety, that extra weight of electric cars actually helps people inside electric vehicles. Also, insurance claim statistics have shown that people in electric vehicles are less likely to be injured in a crash than people in otherwise similar gas-powered vehicles.

Despite having more weight, EVs exhibit better fuel economy

Electric vehicles are proven to reduce fuel costs dramatically because of the high efficiency of electric-drive components. A reason behind this is that all-electric vehicles and PHEVs rely upon whole or part electric power, and their fuel economy is measured differently than that of conventional vehicles. Miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe) and kilowatt-hours (kWh) per 100 miles are common metrics. Depending on how they are driven, today’s light-duty all-electric vehicles (or PHEVs in electric mode) can exceed 130 MPGe and can drive 100 miles consuming only 25–40 kWh.

HEVs have typically achieved better fuel economy and have also lower fuel costs as compared to similar conventional vehicles. For example, Toyota Corolla Hybrid at an EPA combined city-and-highway fuel economy estimated to have 52 miles per gallon (MPG), while the estimate for the conventional 2021 Corolla (four-cylinder, automatic) is 34 MPG. The fuel economy of medium- and heavy-duty all-electric vehicles and PHEVs is highly dependent on the load carried and the duty cycle, but in the right applications, all-electric vehicles maintain a strong fuel-to-cost advantage over their conventional counterparts.

Thus, it is clear that electric vehicles are the future and they have a huge potential to show developments in their batteries which will weigh much less in the future. 

(with inputs from Aaysuhi Sharma)