Electric vehicles offer 'unique' road safety issues: Report

A Department of Transport report says Canada's road safety regulations fall short of the dangers posed by heavy-duty electric vehicles.

Contents of the article

The report says large batteries increase vehicle weight, which is a “key factor” in collisions, according to Blacklock's Reporter.

Contents of the article

“Vehicle electrification has been identified as a key factor impacting road safety and the automotive industry,” the report said. Evaluation of road safety programs.

The report said the added weight of electric vehicles made the rules obsolete.

“The significant weight of EV batteries creates unique safety considerations,” the authors say.

“Electric vehicles can weigh hundreds of pounds more than similarly sized gasoline-powered vehicles, creating safety risks in a collision with a lighter vehicle. Their increased weight also means that some heavier models may not meet Transport Canada's testing standards at all.”

Contents of the article

According to Kelly Blue Book, the electric Ford F-150 pickup truck can weigh 6,015 pounds, or 2.7 metric tons, which is about 50% more than a standard gas-powered F-150.

“At more than 9,000 pounds, the GMC Hummer EV SUV tops the electric vehicle weight charts,” according to Kelly Blue Book.

The report quotes one unidentified manager as saying the complaint rules were never intended to apply to three- or four-tonne passenger vehicles.

“Electric vehicles are getting heavier, and our performance requirements are based on weight,” the manager said.

“It could get to the point where they’re not even subject to the requirements anymore because they’ve already passed the point.”

The Department of Transport said that “emerging gaps like these highlight the importance of the rules.” However, the Department of the Environment made only passing mention of road safety considerations when setting quotas for the sale of electric vehicles.

Insurance premiums were higher for electric vehicles because they “tend to be heavier due to the weight of the batteries on board,” the 2022 regulatory impact analysis report said.

The mandates were supposed to take effect with an initial sales quota of 20% on new 2026 model year vehicles, but Prime Minister Mark Carney suspended that quota in September.