The heavier the car, the more damage it causes in the event of a crash. It’s one of the reasons the current fashion for SUVs contributes to road danger and it’s a threat to safety that’s about to become worse as large 4x4s go electric. The problem is set to be particularly acute in America where there’s an appetite for supersized vehicles.
Take, for example, the new GMC Hummer EV, which weighs in at over 4 tonnes – equivalent to more than two Range Rover Evoque SUVs. You don’t need a physics degree to understand how in the event of a collision with a four-tonne car, the other vehicle acts like a crumple zone. The advent of a new breed of super-heavy battery powered SUV may well prompt drivers of smaller cars to buy bigger in order to offset this risk.
The new electric Hummer weighs the same as seven classic minis
Bringing these leviathans to a stop isn’t the problem you might think as regenerative braking systems can compensate for the additional weight. In fact, some of the brakes on EVs outperform their internal combustion engine counterparts.
Audi claims its regenerative braking systems take care of 95% of slowing its electric vehicles in everyday driving, and provide approximately 30% of the braking performance in an emergency stop.
However, it’s likely the braking performance of large electric SUVs will be more than offset by the danger associated with their rapid acceleration, heavy weight and poor driver visibility.
Buy small, hire large
Forget most of what you’ve heard about hybrid, electric, or biodiesel – there’s no such thing as a ‘green’ car. All cars damage the environment; it’s just that some do more damage than others. The greenest car is the one left at home in favour of cycling to work or walking to the shops. Assuming you need to own a car, how can you limit your impact?
Buy as small as you can for your day-to-day needs. You may decide you need a big car because you have relatives that live over 400 miles away. If you only visit them twice a year, however, and most of your driving is done in a 50-mile radius a big car may be inefficient. By buying a smaller car for the majority of driving, and renting a bigger car for the long trips, you will save money and reduce your impact on the environment.
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.
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