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Heavy Electric Pickups: Are We Facing A New Road Safety Risk?

With the rise of large electric pickups, safety experts warn that their extra weight may increase road risks for drivers, pedestrians, and first responders.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 26, 2025

With the rise of large electric pickups, safety experts warn that their extra weight may increase road risks for drivers, pedestrians, and first responders.

Heavy Electric Pickups: Examining the Rising Road Safety Concerns

Electric vehicles (EVs) have charted remarkable advances in efficiency and emissions. But as their adoption surges, new concerns have surfaced about the safety risks posed by their ever-increasing size and mass, especially in the pickup truck segment. Across regulatory agencies, transportation experts, and auto manufacturers, the debate now centers on whether America’s heavier electric pickups and SUVs threaten to upend established road safety expectations. This article explores the core issues, evidence, and future outlook.

Understanding the Shift: Why Are Electric Pickups Heavier?

Most modern electric trucks and SUVs are significantly heavier than their gasoline-powered counterparts. This added bulk is almost entirely due to the massive lithium-ion battery packs required to deliver long range, performance, and towing capacity. As a result:

Electric pickups can weigh 30-50% more than similar internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
The GMC Hummer EV pickup, as cited by NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, tips the scales at over 9,000 pounds, with its battery alone weighing around 2,900 pounds—about the same as a whole Honda Civic.
The Ford F-150 Lightning is 2,000-3,000 pounds heavier than its gas-only equivalent.

This rising curb weight is not exclusive to pickups; SUVs and crossovers are also growing larger and heavier as EV technologies mature and consumer preferences shift.

The Core Safety Concerns: Mass and Momentum

Vehicle mass in a crash can be decisive. The heavier the vehicle, the more force it delivers to anything it collides with. NTSB Chair Homendy’s comments illuminate several specific concerns:

Severe injury risk: Larger, heavier EVs heighten the risk of serious injury or death for occupants in smaller vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Acceleration and performance: Many EV pickups unleash rapid acceleration due to instant electric torque, further complicating crash scenarios. Vehicles marketed with 0-to-60 times amplify risk for road users, especially if not matched with appropriate driving skill and awareness.

Even the latest driver assistance tech, from collision avoidance to lane keeping, cannot counteract the basic physics of a high-mass vehicle striking a lighter one.

Table: Comparative Weights of Notable Electric Pickups

Vehicle Model	Approximate Weight (lbs)	Weight Increase vs ICE
GMC Hummer EV Pickup	9,000	+3,000
Ford F-150 Lightning	6,500–7,000	+2,000–3,000
Chevy Silverado EV	Not specified, estimated 8,000	+2,500–3,500

Real-World Risks: Infrastructure and Emergency Response

Beyond direct crash dynamics, experts say the proliferation of heavy EVs will stress existing roadways, bridges, and barriers. University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s crash test studies illustrate this vividly:

A 7,000-lb electric pickup traveling at 60 mph smashed through a highway guardrail without slowing down—a test for which current highway safety barriers designed for lighter vehicles proved inadequate.
Road infrastructure and parking structures, engineered for lighter, traditional cars, may require extensive retrofitting or redesigns as average vehicle weights climb.

First responders also face new hazards. Lithium-ion battery fires are notably harder to extinguish, can reignite unexpectedly, and may deliver dangerous electric shocks through “stranded energy.” Sprinkler systems and fire suppression standards are often insufficient for EV-related incidents.

Who’s Sounding The Alarm?

Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is among those most vocal about these risks. In speeches and Senate hearings, she has stressed that current vehicle designs, infrastructure, and first responder protocols are not yet adapted for the new generation of heavy EVs:

“I’m concerned about the increased risk of severe injury and death for all road users from heavier curb weights and increasing size, power, and performance of vehicles on our roads, including electric vehicles.”

Homendy also highlighted:

Insufficient manufacturer guidance for emergency crews on EV fire risks and rescue techniques
Training gaps among firefighters and law enforcement regarding EV-specific hazards, including toxic battery gases and high-voltage arcs
The need for clearer, standardized safety protocols and research to inform infrastructure upgrades and emergency response

Automaker Response: The Debate Over Responsibility

Automakers acknowledge concern, but also highlight several key positives for their heavy electric trucks:

Efforts to reduce emissions and operational fuel costs compared to traditional ICE trucks
Increased efficiency per mile when compared to similarly sized gasoline pickups and SUVs
Advanced safety systems such as crash avoidance, automatic braking, and robust passenger protection

However, critics argue that these safety features do little to mitigate the impact of mass on vulnerable road users and infrastructure. Meanwhile, some performance-oriented models, like the Hummer EV, have been marketed for their size and acceleration, sparking debate over whether such features should be regulated or discouraged.

Environmental Implications of Heavy Electric Pickups

The story is nuanced: while EVs help reduce tailpipe emissions, their size and batteries make them less efficient, and sometimes even more polluting over their lifecycle than smaller gasoline sedans. Life-cycle analyses point out:

Heavy EVs incur more emissions during manufacturing, especially due to mining and processing battery materials
Energy demand for charging larger batteries strains local grids, depending on energy sources
Batteries’ end-of-life disposal and recycling pose additional environmental and safety challenges

For comparative purposes: a massive Hummer EV will consume far more resources, both environmental and infrastructural, than an efficient, lightweight sedan—regardless of powertrain.

Infrastructure: Can Our Roads Keep Up?

America’s roads, bridges, and parking garages were designed for a lighter era. Today:

Highway guardrails are failing in crash tests with new, heavier EV trucks
Bridge load limits are coming under new scrutiny as average vehicle weights rise
Public and private parking structures may face wear, strain, or accelerated degradation with fleets of multi-ton trucks

Combined with the predicted continued growth of the light-truck segment, these factors signal a possible wave of infrastructure upgrades and increased maintenance budgets nationwide.

First Responders: Facing the EV Challenge

Battery fires present unique hazards:

Toxic fumes: Lithium-ion batteries can release dangerous gases when damaged, endangering firefighters and bystanders
Thermal runaway: Damaged cells can spontaneously re-ignite or explode, complicating fire suppression efforts
Electric shock: High-voltage circuits and “stranded energy” mean first responders face risks not present in traditional vehicles

The NTSB has concluded that manufacturers have not provided adequate rescue guidelines or training resources, pointing to the urgent need for improved coordination between industry and emergency services.

Potential Solutions: What Needs to Change?

Enhanced crash barriers: State and federal agencies may need to redesign guardrails and highway infrastructure for heavier, high-mass vehicles
First responder training: Development of comprehensive safety protocols for dealing with EV battery fires, extrication, and toxic exposure scenarios
Incentivizing lighter EV designs: Research and incentives for lighter, safer battery technologies could reduce some risks
Stricter marketing for performance vehicles: Curbing the emphasis on acceleration and size could focus the EV market on safety and practicality
Public awareness campaigns: Educating drivers and buyers about the safety and infrastructure challenges posed by heavy EVs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why are electric pickups and SUVs so much heavier than gas versions?

A: The vast majority of additional weight comes from large lithium-ion batteries, required to provide long driving range and high towing capacity typical of this segment. These packs can weigh several thousand pounds—sometimes as much as an entire compact car.

Q: Can advanced safety technologies compensate for higher vehicle weight?

A: While driver-assistance systems such as collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking help reduce accidents, they cannot overcome the physics of mass in a crash. Heavier EVs still pose greater risks to those in lighter vehicles or to pedestrians.

Q: Are highway guardrails and bridges safe for heavy EVs?

A: Many current barriers and bridge load limits were designed for traditional vehicle weights. Recent crash tests imply some infrastructure may need upgrades to handle the new generation of heavy EV trucks.

Q: Are lithium-ion battery fires more dangerous than gasoline fires?

A: EV battery fires can be harder to extinguish and may emit toxic fumes, reignite after appearing dormant, and expose first responders to electric shock risks.

Q: What is being done to protect first responders?

A: Agencies like the NTSB are urging automakers to provide clearer guidance, better rescue protocols, and improved training resources for emergency crews.

Conclusion: Weighing Progress Against New Risks

The emergence of heavy electric pickups highlights a classic dilemma—how to maximize environmental and technological progress without sacrificing road safety or stressing infrastructure. While the shift to electric offers promise in reduced emissions and long-term sustainability, the new realities of vehicle mass, crash risk, and first responder safety present urgent questions.

In the end, meaningful solutions will require coordinated action from automakers, policymakers, infrastructure engineers, and emergency personnel to ensure the future of transportation is both clean and safe for all.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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