EV drivers are in trouble again. Electric vehicles (EVs) have been hailed as the future of motoring in Ireland, promising cleaner air and lower running costs as the country pushes towards its 2030 climate goals. And their sales are increasing compared to petrol cars.
However, a groundbreaking study from Lero, the Research Ireland Centre for Software at the University of Limerick, suggests that drivers behind the wheel of EVs might be facing an unexpected downside: A higher likelihood of being at fault in road traffic accidents compared to those driving traditional petrol or diesel cars.
Key Findings: EVs Top the Risk Charts
The study uncovered several striking differences between drivers of electric, hybrid, and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles:
Higher Crash Risk: EV drivers are more likely to be at fault in accidents, with a 4% increase in at-fault insurance claims compared to ICE vehicles. Hybrid vehicles (HYBs) showed a 6% increase, though statistical models suggest hybrids don’t pose a significantly higher risk overall.
Costlier Repairs: When EVs are involved in crashes, repairs are 6.7% more expensive than for traditional vehicles, largely due to the complex technology and pricey batteries.
Different Driving Habits: EV and hybrid drivers exhibit distinct behaviours compared to their petrol and diesel counterparts, despite clocking fewer miles on average.
Why Are EV Drivers Riskier?
So, what’s driving this trend? The researchers point to a shift in behaviour when drivers switch to electric or hybrid vehicles. The way people drive changes significantly with EVs.
It could be down to the instant torque and acceleration, the quieter engines, or even overconfidence in the technology. Whatever the cause, the data shows EVs are more prone to at-fault incidents.
As anyone with an EV knows though, that acceleration when the lights go green is something else. If anyone challenges you to a drag race along the Malahide Road, it’s hard to knock it back, considering that you know you’ll win. You’ll also win a fine probably, and it seems, a big repair bill, for both your fancy EV and the pole you wrapped yourself around.
EV Economics: A Costly Conundrum for Irish Drivers
For Irish motorists, the findings could hit the pocket as well as the road. With EVs more likely to be involved in at-fault crashes despite lower mileage, plus higher repair costs driven by battery replacements and first-party damages, they could be more expensive to insure than their petrol counterparts.
The study drew on a hefty dataset: Records from commercial fleet trips across 14,642 vehicles in the Netherlands, alongside insurance claims from January to October 2022. While the research wasn’t conducted in Ireland, its implications resonate here, where EV uptake is surging.
What Does This Mean for Ireland?
As the Irish government pushes for more EVs on the road by 2030, these findings could spark a rethink about how we prepare drivers for the switch. Could extra training be needed to handle the unique dynamics of electric cars? Might insurance premiums rise for EV owners as a result of this higher risk? For now, the research poses more questions than answers—but it’s an interesting nugget for policymakers, insurers, and drivers alike.
This isn’t about discouraging EVs—they’re vital for Ireland’s sustainability goals. It’s about understanding the risks and adapting.
For Irish drivers eyeing an electric future, it might be worth keeping an extra eye on the road—and the insurance bill. The EV revolution is well underway, but it seems it’s not without a few bumps along the way.
