SOLUTIONSplus publishes new policy brief on electromobility and road safety

SOLUTIONSplus has released a new policy brief focusing on the intersection of electromobility and road safety. Titled Electromobility and Road Safety: Making Zero-Carbon Support Vision-Zero, the document highlights six critical areas where these two priorities converge, offering practical insights for policymakers navigating this evolving landscape.

Electromobility is rapidly becoming a key element in the global push to decarbonise road transport, a priority for governments worldwide. However, decarbonisation is not the only goal. Road safety, an equally pressing concern, is emerging as both a challenge and an opportunity within the scope of electromobility.

The policy brief identifies six key areas where EVs intersect with road safety: speed and acceleration, noise, size and weight, street-side charging infrastructure, vehicle diversity, and fire safety. Each of these aspects presents unique opportunities to enhance road safety, but they also carry potential risks if not carefully managed.

For example, while the near-silent operation of EVs helps reduce noise pollution, it could pose a threat to pedestrians who rely on sound to detect approaching vehicles. The trend towards larger, heavier electric vehicles, if not regulated, could increase the severity of accidents. The policy brief also highlights the fire hazards associated with electric vehicle batteries.

As the adoption of electromobility continues to accelerate, the way policymakers address these challenges will be crucial in shaping the future of road transport. The SOLUTIONSplus policy brief offers a range of recommendations to mitigate these risks, ensuring that the transition to zero-carbon vehicles aligns with the EU’s goal of eliminating road fatalities and serious injuries by 2050.

This policy brief is part of the EU-funded SOLUTIONSplus project, which aims to drive the transition to low-carbon urban mobility. It draws on extensive input from transport experts, including contributions from the POLIS working groups on Clean Vehicles & Air Quality and Safety & Security, a workshop organised by the International Transport Forum’s Safer City Streets Network, and in-depth interviews with industry specialists.

Interested readers can download the full policy brief here.

Author: Jonathan De Vriendt

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.