Highway infrastructure in the United States does not provide adequate protection against electric vehicles. As tests have shown, due to their larger mass compared to gasoline analogues, electric cars can easily demolish traditional fences. In this respect reports Associated press.
During testing at the University of Nebraska, the 2022 Rivian R1T electric pickup truck crashed into a standard metal barrier without losing much speed and stopped only after hitting a concrete barrier.
Scientists noted that the current road barrier system in the United States is designed to withstand collisions with cars weighing up to 2.5 tons, the R1T weighs almost four tons, and most other electric car models weigh more than three tons.
Crash tests confirmed the high level of safety for people inside electric vehicles, but also showed that they could pose a threat to pedestrians and drivers in lighter vehicles.
The extra weight of electric vehicles is due to their massive batteries, which are required to achieve a driving range of approximately 480 kilometers on a single charge. The weight of the batteries alone is comparable to the weight of a compact car with an internal combustion engine. Electric vehicles generally weigh 20-50% more than gasoline vehicles and have a lower center of gravity.
The heavy weight of electric cars will also lead to faster wear of road surfaces, public parking structures and other infrastructure, the researchers noted. To solve this problem, large-scale redesign of the road transport complex is required.
happened before known About the first case of accident involving the electric pickup truck Tesla Cybertruck.