Rivian R1T Crash Test Raises Safety Concerns for Heavy EVs

A recent crash test showed the Rivian R1T electric truck tearing through a steel guardrail, highlighting the challenge heavier electric vehicles pose to current road safety measures.

• The Midwest Roadside Safety Facility at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln conducted a crash test where a Rivian R1T truck tore through a steel guardrail at 60 mph, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current guardrails against heavier electric vehicles.
• Electric vehicles, which are generally 20-50% heavier than combustion engine vehicles, could crash into roadside barriers with 20% to 50% more impact energy, increasing the urgency to address road safety for EVs.
• Safety experts have raised concerns about the risks heavier vehicles pose to road safety, including a higher likelihood of causing fatalities in pedestrian crashes.
• Transportation officials, defense experts, and researchers are collaborating to determine steps required to accommodate the rising number of EVs on America's roads.
• The increasing weight of vehicles, driven by consumer demand for larger cars and the adoption of electric vehicles, poses new challenges for road safety infrastructure.

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