Electric Vehicle Safety: How to Stay Safe on the Road
By releasing less greenhouse gas emissions than fuel-burning cars, electrical vehicles are a great addition to an eco-friendly lifestyle. While electric vehicles currently emit around 200 grams of CO2 per mile, this is set to be reduced by 75% to just 50 grams by 2050. Electric cars are also proving to be at least just as safe as regular cars, with two more new electric vehicles recently earning safety awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. And, by adopting responsible driving habits, you can keep yourself as safe as possible on the road.
Avoid harsh braking
Regenerative braking is an eco-friendly benefit of electric cars, which involves braking energy being stored and recycled to recharge the batteries. When you take your foot off the accelerator pedal, the motor creates reverse torque in the front wheels and the car decelerates. In contrast, regular brakes convert movement energy into heat only for it to be wasted. You can maximize regenerative braking by proactively anticipating the road ahead to perfect your driving and eliminate the need for harsh braking. Avoiding harsh braking also has the safety benefit of protecting the car rotors, which can otherwise become damaged or overheat, potentially leading to brake failure.
Be mindful of speed
While a speed of around 40-50 miles-per-hour is most efficient for traditional cars, electric vehicles do best at lower speeds. The higher the speed, the more energy electric vehicles burn through. The reason for this is that air resistance (aka drag) increases by the square of the vehicle speed. While you may get away with this in a fuel-burning car that increases efficiency in higher gears, electric vehicles don’t offer this benefit. Hence, electric vehicles are ideal for cities with generally lower speed limits. Moreover, driving at lower speeds also makes it easier for you to suddenly stop your car if needed and prevent potential accidents. No matter how carefully you drive, however, road collisions can still happen due to unavoidable hazards. In this case, an experienced lawyer can help you secure compensation for damages after an accident, FVF Law explains.
Conserve momentum
Conserving momentum is essential for safe driving, while also aiding regenerative braking. By paying attention to the road and surrounding cars, you can easily conserve momentum as it helps you avoid needless accelerating and braking. Becoming a more responsible driver also helps you shed reckless driving habits like speeding and failure to obey traffic signs, which can increase your risk of accident and injury.
Not only are electric vehicles eco-friendly, they’re also safe. By adopting responsible driving habits, you can get the most out of your electric vehicle and stay safe on the road.