Electric vehicles (EVs) are twice as likely to knock down pedestrians as petrol and diesel cars, a new study has found. 

Data from crashes in Britain was analysed by a team at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and concluded EVs were significantly more likely to be involved in an accident. 

Speaking on The Pat Kenny Show, transport expert Conor Faughnan said many EVs are “silent and deadly”. 

“There are a couple of caveats - they add them themselves - one is it’s quite old data,” he said. 

“They were looking at collisions from 2013 to 2017 and that’s 10 years ago, there were far fewer EVs at that time. 

“The big one everyone thinks is the lack of noise; an electric vehicle just does not make that engine sound.” 

A member of An Garda Siochana places flowers given by the public near the scene of a crash. Photograph: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie

Since the data was compiled, the manufacturing standards of EVs have changed and all models sold in the European Union must emit a sound that can be heard by pedestrians. 

“The European Union brought that rule in in 2019 and everybody thinks it’s a good idea,” Mr Faughnan said. 

“We’re all programmed from a very young age to be subconsciously aware of the sound of a vehicle engine. 

“It’s amazing when that disappears. 

“People who drive EVs will know it - and I’ve done it myself - if you drive through a pedestrian rich area, you’re driving perfectly safely but they’re not hearing you. 

“So, you see people catch you out of the corner of their eye and jump out of their skin.” 

Since the Government cut subsidies for EVs, the number of consumers buying new EVs has dropped by 20% in comparison to last year.

Main image: An EV being charged. Image: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Sipa USA.