In the United States, electric vehicles (EVs) are tested using the same crash test protocols as gas-powered vehicles by organizations such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
- Structure and weight: EVs tend to be heavier due to the battery pack, which can improve crash performance by better absorbing impact energy. However, the higher mass can also increase force in multi-vehicle collisions.
- Frontal and side impact: Many EVs perform exceptionally well due to reinforced battery protection zones and the absence of large engines, allowing for more effective crumple zones.
- Fire risk: Modern EVs use advanced battery management systems to minimize risk. While battery fires are rare, they are treated very seriously in crash assessments.
- Ratings: Several EVs, like the Tesla Model 3 and Rivian R1T, have earned top NHTSA ratings and IIHS Top Safety Pick awards, often matching or exceeding comparable gasoline vehicles.
Overall, EVs in the U.S. are considered as safe—or safer—than traditional vehicles when evaluated under standardized crash testing.