Road safety aspects of quiet Electric Vehicles in Africa and South Asia
This paper revolves around how to find the balance between tackling climate change, air pollution and noise pollution and improving road safety
Abstract
Electric Vehicles (EVs) are projected by many to become mainstream in global road transport systems in the next two decades. While, from an air pollution, noise pollution, and climate change mitigation perspective, the mass substitution of Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs) with EVs can have clear benefits for urban environments, the fact that EVs are substantially noiseless at low speeds can pose some serious road safety issues.
In fact, there are a number of potential scenarios that would see quiet EVs increase the risk of collision with pedestrians, cyclists, people with sight disabilities and other city users. This Insight Paper revolves around the key question of how to find the balance between tackling climate change, air pollution and noise pollution on the one hand, and improving road safety on the other hand. HVT’s preliminary research shows that this is an underresearched topic, with no studies found in this area relating to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Examples from high-income countries are used in this paper as the basis to discuss the possible impact on road safety of EV penetration in LMICs in Africa and South Asia, as well as possible solutions and research gaps.
This is an output of the High Volume Transport Applied Research Programme
Citation
Petrarulo, L. (2021) HVT Insight paper: Road safety aspect of quiet Electric Vehicles in Africa and South Asia
Link
Road safety aspects of quiet Electric Vehicles in Africa and South Asia