Death rates in hybrids ‘three times higher than petrol cars’ as road safety experts call for inquiry
Road safety experts called for an investigation on Saturday night after it was revealed that drivers were three times more likely to die in hybrid vehicles than in petrol vehicles.
A total of 122 people died in hybrid car crashes last year, compared with 777 in crashes involving petrol cars, according to Department for Transport figures analyzed by The Mail on Sunday.
But since hybrids outnumber petrol models on British roads almost 20 to 1, this means hybrids are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash.
Experts believe the higher death rates may be explained by the combination of hybrid vehicles with gasoline engines, batteries and electric motors, which can be harder to control and more prone to fire.
Transport research organisation, the RAC Foundation, has called for the establishment of a ‘dedicated research branch’ to examine this trend. ‘It’s time we had a specialist resource to address road safety risk,’ said Director Steve Gooding.
Car batteries can also be the culprit. They can be damaged by the heat of a burning engine at extremely high temperatures, making them more prone to catching fire.
The high electric current flowing through the car also increases the risk of accidents for passengers. Due to the different nature of hybrid fires and the potential for toxic gas release, first responders need special training and equipment.
Some experts blame the number of kilometers hybrids can cover, and many taxi drivers use hybrids for their fuel efficiency. However, as cars age, batteries wear out and performance decreases, the risks posed by cars also increase.
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A total of 122 people died in hybrid car crashes last year, while 777 people died in crashes involving petrol cars, according to Department for Transport figures analyzed by The Mail on Sunday (file photo)
As hybrids outnumber petrol models on British roads almost 20 to 1, this means hybrids are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash (file photo)
The figures show that diesel cars are slightly safer; electric vehicles (EVs) are considered the safest; Despite accounting for nearly 2 million of the cars on Britain’s roads, it caused just 23 deaths last year.
Nicholas Lyes, of road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, said: ‘Plug-in hybrids are generally heavier and more complex vehicles due to the fact that they run on both a conventional combustion engine and a battery.’
They have two power supplies, two cooling systems, and more complex electronics and wiring. They can create ‘complex fire scenarios’ that are more difficult for firefighters to extinguish.
Hybrids were found to burst into flames at higher rates than others by Tusker, a leading insurance company for company vehicles. Among their fleet of 30,000 vehicles, hybrids were at almost three times higher risk, with 3,475 fires per 100,000.
There are fewer than a million hybrid cars in the UK and their popularity has stagnated recently. As Britons’ enthusiasm for Net Zero cools, less than a third of voters support a proposal to ban new petrol and diesel vehicles.
Industry figures have privately expressed concern that demand for electric vehicles and hybrids is not strong enough to meet the target. The new figures will be a cause for concern for ministers grappling with waning interest in hybrid vehicles, as Labour’s ban comes into force within five years.
