Drivers of gas-powered cars usually tend to get into an accident after they switch to an electrical vehicle — because they will not be used to the quirks of getting behind the wheel of battery-powered models, in keeping with a report from an insurance industry expert.
Data insights firm LexisNexis Risk Solutions found that the frequency of insurance claims rose 14.3% while the quantity paid out increased 14.5% for individuals who switched to EVs like a Tesla — which makes up the vast majority of electric vehicle sales within the US.
The info supports Hertz’s recent move to dump about 20,000 EVs — about 80% of which were Teslas –due to the high costs related to repairing the fleet.
The uptick in insurance claims is the very best throughout the first 12 months after drivers make the switch to an EV, per LexisNexis’ findings, which were first reported by CNN Business.
LexisNexis analyzed insurance claims for brand spanking new EVs that replaced gas-powered vehicles in American households, CNN reported.
When drivers switch from gas- to battery-powered vehicles, the frequency of insurance claims rises by about 14.3%, in keeping with LexisNexis Risk Solutions. The quantity that must be paid out, meanwhile, increases by 14.5%. VIA REUTERS
It found that though crashes were common in the primary 12 months of switching from battery to gas, accidents surged in households with each a gas and an electrical model — indicating that often switching from one to a different compounds the difficulty.
As well as, the proven fact that crash frequency lessens with time also suggests that unfamiliarity has something to do with it, Xiaohui Lu, head of EV research at LexisNexis, told CNN.
Though LexisNexis didn’t point to a selected EV feature that causes a crash, there are some key differences between a Tesla and the everyday gas-powered vehicle.
Teslas, for instance, activate and are able to drive as soon as an individual sits within the drivers seat.
Similarly, when the motive force gets out, the high-tech vehicle turns itself off.
And because the cars are fully electric, there’s no engine rev or vibration when a Tesla activates, making it difficult to discern whether the vehicle is able to drive or not.
Also, Teslas can speed up at a much faster rate than their gas-powered counterparts, Lu told the outlet.
Teslas are more vulnerable to crashes than their gas-powered counterparts due to their fast acceleration and fewer need for pedal pressure in low-speed situations, the pinnacle of EV research told CNN. AP
Tesla’s Model 3, for instance, can reportedly go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.1.
The BMW 330i, by comparison, takes greater than a second longer to achieve that speed.
Nevertheless, high speeds aren’t the one concern for Lu, who also pointed to EVs’ quick response to pedal pressure as a difficulty, in keeping with CNN.
Gas cars ranging from a stop generally need more pedal pressure before the automotive can start moving, because the engine must rev a bit, which isn’t the case with an EV, per CNN.
This difference may be dangerous in environments where low speeds are critical, reminiscent of in parking garages or lots, or in a traffic jam.
“Most drivers are trained in driving [internal combustion] vehicles and so they’re applying the habitual amount of pressure on the driving pedal however the behavior could be very different, particularly in low-speed zones,” Lu told the outlet.
It may be difficult for drivers to get used to EVs so-called “one-pedal driving” feature, which slows the automotive rapidly when the motive force lifts off the accelerator pedal reasonably than simply allowing it to coast, like in a gas-powered automotive.
Getting used to using only one pedal for each starting and stopping can result in confusion in emergency situations when a fast slam on the actual brake pedal is required, CNN reported.
Gas-powered vehicles have two pedals, while Teslas have a “one-pedal driving” feature that would prove dangerous when a fast slam on the brake is required. EPA
EV drivers involved in a crash can even expect their repair bills to be much higher due to their complex features, reminiscent of safety sensors in bumpers — which can appear to be an expensive perk when driving but is a costly fix even when it has a minor dent.
Representatives for LexisNexis and Tesla didn’t immediately reply to The Post’s request for comment.
