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Many of the skills and actions required of you as a driver become automatic the longer you drive, as the knowledge you’ve gained becomes embedded in your subconscious. With that knowledge firmly planted in your long-term memory, you can perform the task of driving without consciously planning out every move. For example, you may see traffic ahead speeding up and press on the accelerator, knowing subconsciously how much pressure to apply to reach your desired speed and how long it will take your car to speed up.

This is part of the learning curve whenever you drive a new vehicle, but it requires far more adjustment when you get behind the wheel of a new type of vehicle. Moving from a gas-powered engine to an electric motor can render parts of your subconscious knowledge irrelevant. Even worse, old habits can create risk, as you must actively unlearn them to safely operate a vehicle that behaves differently from what you are used to.

Accelerate Gently

One of the biggest differences between driving a gas car and an electric car is the acceleration. Electric cars typically get up to speed faster than traditional gas-powered cars because they are designed to produce peak torque at 0 rpm, whereas a combustion engine doesn’t reach peak power without revving. This means that electric motors can produce maximum torque instantly, allowing for much quicker acceleration.

The instant torque of an electric engine is as much a selling point as it is a collision risk. Drivers who are used to gas vehicles, which take time to build power, are often shocked by how quicky an EV accelerates. Where once they had to depress the gas pedal and wait for the vehicle to build speed, now touching the accelerator brings them up to speed almost instantly. New EV drivers must adjust by accelerating less frequently, using a lighter touch on the pedals, and leaving more room between them and other vehicles to avoid closing gaps too quickly.

“New drivers face triple the crash risk behind EV wheels, according to safety data—and instant torque is the culprit.” -Christen Da Costa, Founder & Co-CEO, Gadget Review

EV motors work fundamentally differently from internal combustion engines. EV drivers should be aware of these differences and adjust their driving to maintain a safe following distance and a cushion of space around their vehicles at all times.

Slow Down Gradually

Another big difference between gas-powered vehicles and EVs is “one-pedal driving,” an EV feature that allows drivers to accelerate and decelerate with a single pedal. Historically, the issue with one-pedal driving is that some older EVs can slow and even come to a complete stop without the brake lights coming on. This means that a driver following an EV may not get the same advance warning of slowing or stopping that gas-powered vehicles typically provide, risking more frequent rear-end collisions.

Fortunately, most EVs on the roads today won’t still have this issue. To check if your EV’s brake lights illuminate when you brake using one-pedal driving, ask a friend to observe your vehicle as you decelerate or set up a camera outside to record it. Activate one-pedal driving, but don’t take your foot off the pedal to slow down. Instead, gradually transition from cruising to stopping by only gently depressing the pedal. If your brake lights do not come on, consider avoiding one-pedal driving or remember when slowing to always fully release the pedal.

Drivers who use one-pedal driving should remain aware that drivers behind them may not be used to how much more quickly an EV can slow down, speed up, and stop than an average gas car, especially if no brake lights come on. To help prevent a rear-end collision, leave plenty of space ahead of you so that you can slow gradually, giving drivers behind you more time to notice your vehicle slowing down and adjust their speed accordingly.

Watch for Others

A common selling feature of electric vehicles is how quiet they are. Without gasoline, electric motors don’t require the pulling, compressing, and exploding constantly happening in combustion engines. In short, nothing is combusting, making them almost silent.

Though the lack of mechanical noise may be nice for drivers looking for a more peaceful in-cabin experience, it can be a danger to pedestrians and cyclists, especially if they have vision impairments. When vulnerable road users can’t hear a vehicle near them, they can’t act to avoid danger.

“New EV owners cause crashes at three times the rate of experienced drivers, with 33% of EV accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians—1.5 times higher than gas vehicles.” -Christen Da Costa, Founder & Co-CEO, Gadget Review

Thankfully, manufacturers and legislators have clued in to the risks of near-silent vehicles, and governments are now requiring all new EVs to have a low-speed sound to act as a vehicle warning device. However, the sound new EVs emit at low speeds doesn’t replicate the sound of a gas-powered vehicle, so many people are still unfamiliar with it. If a pedestrian has never encountered the sound before, they will not know it is being emitted from a moving vehicle and can still be in danger.

All drivers have a responsibility to monitor the space around their vehicle and ensure they stop for vulnerable road users who cross their path. This responsibility is especially important right now, as the public gets used to the sounds and movements of electric vehicles.

Even though EVs are new and therefore have many features that can improve safety, such as cameras, collision warning lights and sounds, and automatic emergency braking, there is still no replacement for an alert and responsible driver. It’s crucial that EV drivers adjust their driving behavior to help ensure their safety and the safety of those around them.

Sources:

https://www.recurrentauto.com/research/how-is-driving-an-ev-different-from-driving-a-regular-car

https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2022/2022-12-21/html/sor-dors254-eng.html

https://www.gadgetreview.com/why-2026s-fastest-evs-are-causing-a-50-surge-in-fatal-crashes-for-new-drivers

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-safety/brake-lights-can-fail-to-provide-fair-warning-on-some-evs-a9533519285/