Source: Business Insurance

August 22, 2019 (Reuters) — Electric luxury cars and sport utility vehicles may be 40% more likely to cause accidents than their standard engine counterparts, possibly because drivers are still getting used to their quick acceleration, French insurer Axa said. The numbers, based on initial trends from claims data and not statistically significant, also suggest small and micro electric cars are slightly less likely to cause accidents than their combustion engine counterparts, Axa said at a crash test demonstration on Thursday. Axa regularly carries out crash tests for vehicles. This year’s tests, which took place at a disused airport, focused on electric cars. Overall accident rates for electric vehicles are about the same as for regular cars, according to liability insurance claims data for “7,000-year risks” — on 1,000 autos on the road for seven years — said Bettina Zahnd, head of accident research and prevention at Axa Switzerland.