Huge and Heavy EV Batteries: Is Increased Range Worth the Safety Trade-Offs?

Among the notable specs on the Hummer EV is a range of up to 350 miles, as well as “extreme off-road capability.” It also weighs at least 9,000 pounds, meaning a fender bender with the truck could turn into a catastrophe if you’re riding around in a compact sedan.It’s an issue that Jennifer Homendy, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), finds troubling. In remarks(Opens in a new window) to the Transportation Research Board this week, she argued that super-heavy vehicles, including EVs, have a “significant impact on safety for all road users.”Of particular concern is the weight disparity between electric and gas-powered vehicles, due to their large batteries. “The Ford F-150 Lightning is between 2,000 and 3,000 pounds heavier than the non-electric version,” Homendy said. “The Mustang Mach-E, Volvo XC40 EV, and RAV4 EV are all roughly 33% heavier.”While EVs do…

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