Electric car safety issues 'remain unaddressed'

Date: 16/9/2010

There are still safety issues with electric cars that have not been addressed, it has been claimed.

In an article for the Guardian, Tim Shallcross stated more regulations are needed on the vehicles to protect people against electric shocks.

He said although the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe agreed safety rules for hybrid cars in March, "there currently are no regulations to safeguard against severe electric shock for drivers, garage technicians and emergency crews attending crashes".

This is despite the fact the machines operate at high voltages of 500V and have been around for a decade, Mr Shallcross continued.

He described motorists as "fickle" regarding road safety - they are prepared to pay to protect themselves and their passengers, but not other road users, he argued.

Therefore, regulation is needed to protect pedestrians and reduce carbon emissions, Mr Shallcross remarked.

Last month, a survey by motoring website Parker's suggested the British public are not keen on electric vehicles, with two-thirds of respondents saying they would not buy one.

Posted by Nick Anderson