The increasing weight of modern vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs), has raised concerns about the strength of America's guardrail systems.
Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln conducted a crash test involving a 7,000-pound Rivian R1T pickup, which barely slowed down after crashing through a guardrail at 60 mph. The issue extends beyond the weight of EVs, which typically weigh between 20 and 50 percent more than gas-powered counterparts. It's also important to consider their lower centers of gravity, which can lead to unexpected behaviors that guardrail designers may not have foreseen.
As the percentage of EVs on the road increases, the proportion of run-off-road crashes involving EVs will increase. Research indicates that EVs could exert 20 to 50 percent more energy on roadside barriers, leading to thousands of fatalities from over 100,000 run-off road crashes on American highways each year.
The U.S. military is also concerned, as it believes that someone with ill intent could use an EV to crash through barriers surrounding sensitive locations. Highway designers need to consider the strength of barriers, as a barrier that can catch a 7,000-pound EV must also be deformable enough not to destroy a 2,500-pound internal-combustion compact car.
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