Hybrid cars safer ? and more dangerous

Hybrid cars: Occupants have fewer injuries in crashes than passengers in conventional cars, new study says. But hybrid cars cause more pedestrian accidents.

Hybrid?cars?are safer ? or more dangerous ? depending on whether you are behind the wheel or walking across a street, according to a study released Thursday.

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Occupants in?hybrid?vehicles suffer fewer injuries in crashes than those who are involved in accidents in conventional?cars, said the Highway Loss Data Institute, an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

But the same study also found that?hybrids, which tend to be quieter ? cause more pedestrian accidents than their nonhybrid counterparts.

The findings were unveiled as automakers rolled out dozens of new?hybrids?at the L.A. Auto Show, which opens to the public Friday at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

BMW showcased its i8 plug-in?hybrid?and i3 all-electric concept?cars?designed to combine the efficiency of a commuter with the exhilaration of a sports?car. The i3 will have the distinction of being the first premium electric vehicle to come to market in 2013.

The i8 plug-in?hybrid, scheduled to follow one year later, can travel about 20 miles on electric power alone. Together, the engine and motor can reach a top speed of 155 miles per hour and make 390 horsepower. BMW anticipates that the?car?will get 78 miles per gallon.

The i3, also wrapped in lightweight carbon fiber, will be able to travel up to 100 miles on a charge and reach top speeds of 93 miles per hour.

Volvo also said it plans to add a diesel-electric?hybrid?to its lineup. Further details on its four-cylinder and diesel-electric plans will be announced at the North American International Auto Show in January in Detroit.

The study by the highway safety research group suggests that the weight of?hybrids?contributed to the 27 percent decrease in bodily injuries for those riding in the vehicles.

Batteries and other components add to the curb weight of?hybrid?cars, making them heavier than the gas-only version of the same?car.

A?hybrid?Honda Accord sedan can weigh 480 pounds more than a conventional Accord. Larger vehicles absorb impacts better than smaller ones, the study said.

At the L.A. Auto Show, automakers said that driver behavior might play a bigger role in crashes and injuries.

"The (hybrid) driver is typically not as aggressive," said David Lee, a Toyota representative who specializes in knowledge of the Prius models.

"Because they are more concerned about maximizing fuel economy and making sure that they are getting every mile out of the gallon," said Joseph Telmo, a Toyota representative who works directly with the Camry brand.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/4zn15TfhiK8/Hybrid-cars-safer-and-more-dangerous

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