Report

Safety and electric passenger cars. Factsheet update, 2020

The main conclusion of this study, carried out for the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), is that electric cars pose no greater safety risks than conventional fuel-powered vehicles. For the study 280 data sources were tracked down and studied and 25 experts interviewed to acquire an as robust picture as possible.

Nine safety themes relating to electric cars and charging infrastructure were assessed. One of the conclusions drawn is that many of the safety issues for electric cars are just as relevant for their conventional counterparts, with few differences between them, one reason being that safety regulations apply to all cars.

The study also shows that incidents involving electric vehicles sometimes require a different course of action. While electric cars pose no greater fire risk in indoor car parks, for example, if such a fire does occur it will have to be tackled differently, creating a need for improved know-how, practical experience and appropriate materials.