Yes - EVs Are Safe! Let Us Tell You Why!

We are all creatures of habit — it's in our genes. Sticking to what we know makes us feel good and secure. It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that the e-revolution is filling a lot of us with dread. One of America's main worries about electric cars has been safety. Scaremongering news reports of the past have focused on exploding batteries, first responders getting electric shocks after EV accidents, and the dangers of the "quiet car" to pedestrians. Most of these concerns have turned out to be myths rather than facts. Allow us to set the record straight.

EV Road Safety

All cars sold in the US — whether electric or not — are extensively tested before they are deemed road-worthy. Only after a vehicle meets all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards is it allowed on public streets. Your EV is therefore at least as safe as a comparable gasoline-powered car right out of the gate.

But EV manufacturers haven't stopped there. Electric cars are now leading the pack on active and passive safety features — from chassis and roof strength to seatbelt reminders and collision avoidance technology. At the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the nonprofit that awards the prestigious Top Safety Pick+ designation, eight fully electric vehicles earned that honor in 2022 — making them among the safest vehicles on the road in their respective categories, often safer than their gasoline-powered equivalents.

EV Battery Safety

In addition to standard road safety requirements, electric cars must also meet specific battery safety standards — protecting drivers from both chemicals and electric shock. The risk of a lithium-ion battery spontaneously catching fire is extremely small: it occurs in roughly one in twelve million batteries. For context, you're about four times more likely to be killed by a shark.

Most lithium-ion batteries produced today are built to last at least 200,000 miles before significant degradation. Battery technology is improving rapidly, and costs have dropped by an extraordinary 97% since batteries were introduced commercially in 1991 — meaning future batteries will be better, longer-lasting, and more affordable.

Pedestrian Safety

Electric cars are genuinely quieter than ICE vehicles, which does pose a real concern for pedestrians — especially those who are blind or have low vision. Without engine noise, detecting an approaching EV's location and direction is harder. The federal government has addressed this directly: a new Minimum Sound Requirement has been added to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, mandating that all newly manufactured hybrid and electric vehicles emit sounds at low speeds and in reverse. The silent EV now has a built-in audio alert system, significantly reducing the risk of pedestrian accidents.