Surprise: Hybrids Crash Risk Three Times Higher Than ICE Cars

There’s somewhere back in the archives a post about how much more dangerous EVs are when it comes to crashes, now we see

Data: Hybrid Vehicles’ Fatal Crash Risk Is Three Times Higher than Gas-Powered Cars

Motorists driving hybrid cars are three times more likely to be involved in fatal road collisions compared to those in conventional petrol vehicles, according to recent statistics from the UK’s Department for Transport.

The Times of London reports that Department for Transport data reveals a concerning trend: hybrid cars, which combine gas engines with electric motors, are overrepresented in fatal road accidents in the UK. The official figures show that in the past year, 122 people died in fatal collisions involving hybrid cars, while 777 deaths occurred in crashes with petrol-only vehicles. Considering that petrol models outnumber hybrid vehicles by nearly 20 to one on UK roads, the data suggests that hybrids are involved in approximately three times as many fatal crashes per capita.

Hybrid cars are preferred by many consumers over traditional gas, diesel, or full EVs due to their perceived benefits. They offer the value of home charging while still providing the extended range and reliability of a combustion engine. However, the recent statistics have raised concerns among road safety specialists, prompting calls for an investigation into the underlying reasons for the disproportionate fatality rates.

According to the data, there was one death for every 8,000 hybrid cars on the road last year, compared to one death for every 20,000 diesel vehicles and one death for every 25,000 gas engines.

Experts suggest that the higher death rates in hybrids could be attributed to the complex combination of petrol engines, batteries, and electric motors, which may be more challenging to control and more susceptible to fires in the event of a crash. The intricacy of hybrid systems, with dual power sources, cooling systems, and intricate electronics and wiring, can create “complex fire scenarios which are harder for firemen to put out,” according to Nicholas Lyes from the road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.

Certainly, hybrids are much heavier than ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles, have pretty much the same acceleration as ICE cars these days, and can provide much more physical force in a crash, and then there are the batteries which can catch on fire, which is why many fire departments have special trucks to deal withe fires from hybrids.

One thing to consider is that there are way, way more hybrids in the UK these days. You want a Honda? Everything is hybrid or EV except for 1 model, and there won’t be many Type R’s available. Toyota? 4 ICE vehicles out 22 models. You have narrow roads and idiots walking around on their phones. Regardless, the government push to force people into non-ICE vehicles creates problems, especially when the ones doing the pushing rarely drive EVs or hybrids themselves. If people want them, they can get them. I love my hybrid. Others want something else.