Overview
- Department for Transport figures show 122 deaths in hybrid car crashes versus 777 in petrol, and with petrol cars outnumbering hybrids by nearly 20 to 1 this equates to roughly a threefold higher per‑vehicle fatality rate for hybrids.
- The RAC Foundation urged a dedicated investigation branch to examine the pattern, with director Steve Gooding saying it is time for a specialist resource focused on road‑safety risk.
- Fully electric vehicles recorded 23 fatalities last year despite nearly two million on the road, while diesel models performed slightly better than petrol on this measure.
- IAM RoadSmart’s Nicholas Lyes highlighted the potential safety implications of dual powertrains, extra weight, complex electronics and cooling systems, with emergency services facing distinct hazards from battery fires and toxic gases.
- Insurer Tusker reported higher hybrid fire rates within its 30,000‑car fleet (3,475 per 100,000), though analysts note limits to generalising from fleet samples and stress that mileage, vehicle age and usage patterns could influence the headline rates.