Electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly gaining favor among drivers as a clean, cheaper, and more fuel-efficient alternative to traditional gas-powered cars.
But electric vehicles still pose safety concerns that must be addressed, and this article discusses some of the standard features found on modern EVs – airbags, blind spot warning and forward collision detection are just a few examples of such protections that may come standard in an electric car.
Safety Features
Electric vehicles differ significantly from traditional gasoline-powered cars in that they do not produce tailpipe emissions and require far less maintenance and repair than their ICE counterparts.
While many may harbor concerns over EV safety, there are numerous features built into these vehicles to safeguard occupants in case of an accident – blind spot warning, forward collision protection and lane departure warning being among them.
Accident prevention systems such as Blind Spot Warning can save lives. Sensors and cameras work together to warn drivers when their vehicle may collide with an oncoming car or individual in the road, potentially saving their lives from collision.
Braking and steering systems of electric vehicles can also help lessen impact and injury during an accident, thanks to their lower center of gravity compared with traditional gasoline-powered cars.
Another factor making electric vehicles safer than their gas-powered counterparts is their superior “crumple zone,” or part of the body that absorbs impact, making EVs much more resistant to rollovers or accidents that would injure gas cars.
EVs come equipped with safety features that automatically deactivate their electrical systems if they detect an accident or short circuit, an especially valuable safety measure given their batteries are susceptible to conditions like overcharging, vibration, humidity, fire risk and water immersion.
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) used in electric vehicles (EVs) are widely considered the safest type, yet they do pose some risks that must be understood and managed. Lithium-ion batteries contain highly flammable electrolytes that may cause thermal runaway; at temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius they could potentially become uncontrollable fire hazards and should therefore be managed carefully to minimize risks.
So it’s no surprise that high-end EVs, such as Teslas, include advanced safety technologies. These include Autopilot technology that takes control of braking and steering to avoid accidents; as well as Smart Cruise Control which keeps drivers within their lane while providing safe distance between other cars and pedestrians.
Blind Spot Warning
Blind spot warning systems use either cameras or sonar to alert drivers of other vehicles that might be lurking in their blind spots. Most systems will display an icon in your side mirror when something enters your blind spot; others may issue alarms should you attempt to change lanes with something still within it, and still others offer rear cross-traffic alert functionality.
These systems are offered either individually or as part of a safety suite such as BMW’s Active Driving Assistant on the 2 Series. It is important to remember, though, that they should never replace using mirrors and checking blind spots yourself.
When activating your turn signal when there is a car in your blind spot, some systems will display images captured from cameras mounted behind the rear of their vehicle; others may flash light or sound an audible alarm depending on their model and system configuration.
As well as showing a live feed of the driver’s blind spot, some systems provide rear cross-traffic alerts when backing out of a parking space or garage. Depending on make and model, some can even automatically apply brakes should an approaching vehicle make contact.
Before purchasing a blind spot monitoring system, be sure to carefully read both its owner’s manual and research various devices available on the market. Some have high false trigger rates or incorrect levels; therefore it is crucial that you select one compatible with your vehicle.
Some systems also warn drivers to steer clear of an area, while others take control of your braking and steering system to help avoid an impact by applying brakes or steering accordingly. While this feature could save lives in certain instances, it remains the responsibility of each driver to remain aware when switching lanes, conducting appropriate shoulder checks when changing lanes as needed.
Regardless of which blind spot monitor you choose to install in your car, its LED indicators must be easily seen without taking your eyes away from the road. Also be sure to adjust their volume so they won’t startle you when activated.
Forward Collision Warning
Forward collision warning systems of electric vehicles (EVs) utilize radar, lasers, and cameras to detect other vehicles, people, or objects that might pose potential threats in front of it. Drivers are then alerted of potential danger via visual and aural warnings.
Although these systems help reduce rear-end crashes on roads, they should not be seen as an alternative to driver education or practice or replacing good drivers who recognize hazards quickly and take appropriate actions quickly to address them. Should an imminent collision with another vehicle still occur, automatic emergency braking and other safety features may be used to minimize its damage.
These technologies can warn the driver of objects ahead by using sounds, visuals, vibrations or brake pulses; or combine multiple warnings for maximum impact. Some also feature red dashboard lights to signal imminent collision risk unless immediate corrective actions are taken by the driver.
Forward collision warning systems tend to use camera or radar technology; however, camera-based systems do not perform as well when exposed to heavy rain and fog conditions.
Drivers may be asked to select whether their system should activate late, normal, or early in case of a potential collision based on factors like distance to vehicle ahead, speed and other considerations. This timing may depend on factors like vehicle ahead distance and speed as well as any additional considerations.
Example: If a car ahead is within 50m and traveling at less than 40km/h, the system won’t issue an alert due to driver awareness being necessary in order to react accordingly.
Lane departure alerts, on the other hand, are activated whenever an incoming vehicle strays into a driver’s lane without first signalling their intent to change lanes or when driving at speeds below 30km/h under normal driving conditions. The system won’t activate in such instances.
For more information on the advanced Honda safety features available in our new EV models, contact Wolfchase Honda of Bartlett now to arrange a test drive!
Lane Departure Warning
Lane departure warning is an advanced safety feature designed to prevent accidents from ever taking place in the first place. It alerts drivers when their car could veer from its lane due to distraction or driving at an extremely slow speed – potentially saving lives in an accident-prone world.
Typically, this technology employs an affordable camera that monitors lane lines on the road ahead of your vehicle as well as your speed, steering wheel angle and turn signals in order to determine whether you are about to leave your lane.
If the system detects that you are about to leave your lane, it will alert you with either audible or visual indicators such as dashboard display, seat or steering wheel vibration and silence itself once you have returned your car back into its proper spot.
Hyundai Lane Departure Warning system can reduce head-on collisions by making sure your car does not leave its lane and drift into oncoming traffic. These types of accidents often involve greater force than those involving vehicles traveling in one direction.
However, lane departure warning alone cannot completely halt these accidents from happening. Therefore, it’s still wise to remain attentive while driving and to take your time when changing lanes.
Lane-keeping features are intended to assist drivers in staying within their lanes by applying gentle brake pressure or steering corrections when necessary, or even steering back into your lane if you stray too far out. Some systems even proactively steer back toward it if this becomes necessary.
Lane-keeping technologies are quickly becoming a standard feature of vehicle fleets as more are introduced onto the market. They’re an excellent solution for long distance drivers who don’t want to risk getting tickets or being involved in accidents while traveling alone.
Lane-keeping assist and lane departure warning are two of the most widely available advanced driver assistance systems on new cars. Both features can go by various names and often come bundled as part of larger ADAS tech packages, though each comes with its own set of limitations that should be understood prior to handing control over to any technological solution. While such assistance systems can be beneficial, it’s essential that drivers understand their limitations before turning over control of their car to any technology solution.