Study: 10 Most Accident-Prone EVs in the United States

Crash safety in electric vehicles (EVs) is a multifaceted topic that encompasses various technological, engineering, and regulatory considerations. As EVs become increasingly prevalent, their safety features and crashworthiness are under intense scrutiny. Traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles have had over a century of development to refine their safety measures, but EVs present unique challenges and opportunities that necessitate a different approach.

A primary concern in EV crash safety is the battery pack. Unlike fuel tanks in ICE vehicles, EV batteries are large, heavy, and typically positioned low in the chassis to improve vehicle stability. However, their high energy density poses a significant fire risk in the event of a crash. Engineers must design robust protective structures around the battery pack to prevent damage during collisions and incorporate advanced cooling systems to mitigate thermal runaway, where a damaged battery can overheat and potentially ignite.

The distribution of weight in EVs also affects crash dynamics. The lower center of gravity, due to the battery placement, can enhance vehicle stability and reduce rollover risk. However, it also alters the impact forces during a collision. This necessitates the adaptation of crash testing protocols and the development of new safety standards to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of EV crash performance.

Recently, the Barnes Firm , a law firm specializing in personal-injury cases, compiled a list of the most popular American EVs and their associated vehicle safety statistics, including total crashes per 1000 cars and total fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023.

“Having represented numerous clients involved in EV accidents, the study's findings resonate with my on-the-ground experience, especially in New York. The increase in accidents involving [EV] models … isn't just a statistic; it's a reality we're dealing with daily,” stated a Barnes Firm car-accident lawyer. “These vehicles introduce new factors into accident scenarios, such as quieter engines and quicker acceleration, that drivers may not anticipate. Our legal approaches and safety regulations must evolve to keep pace with technology changes.”

Whether these numbers imply correlation or causation is up for debate, with many confounding variables influencing these outcomes. Regardless, in this piece, we’ll take a look at what this data set determined to be the ten most accident-prone electric vehicles in the United States.