Top Electric Car Safety Features

Electric cars represent a leap in driving safety. That’s why understanding the safety features of an electric car is crucial when it comes to buying a new model.

Alongside a robust structural design, these modern cars generally come equipped with a range of safety features including electronic stability control, parking sensors, and a suite of driving assistance technologies. For electric cars, safety isn’t just a feature, it’s central to their engineering, from crash performance and battery integrity to intelligent on-road assistance.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the essential safety technologies in electric cars, which features to look out for, and what makes them stand out in safety ratings.​

Standard car safety features

Most new electric cars come with a set of standard built-in car safety features designed to protect drivers and passengers during everyday use. These form the foundation of what makes a car safe.

Some of the most important safety features for an electric car include:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) - ESC helps you stay in control on tight corners or slippery roads by applying braking to individual wheels.
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) - ABS prevents the wheels from locking during sudden braking, giving the driver more control in emergencies.
• Multiple Airbags - Modern vehicles are fitted with front, side, and curtain airbags that are designed to protect all passengers in the event of a collision.
• Seatbelt Pre-tensioners – These automatically tighten the seatbelt during an impact to hold the passenger more securely in place.
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) – This alerts the driver if any tyre is underinflated, helping to maintain braking and steering performance.

These vehicle safety features are fitted in all of Kia’s electric cars, helping to deliver a safe and comfortable experience on the road. The Kia EV3, EV6 and EV9, for example, come equipped with ESC, ABS, TPMS, and a full set of airbags as standard.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

Beyond the basics, Kia’s DriveWise platform introduces a suite of advanced driver assistance systems and technologies that help to support drivers on motorways, in traffic and during city driving.

Here are some of the most important to look for:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist scans the road ahead and can automatically brake if it detects a risk of collision with a vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist.
• Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Keep Assist gently corrects the steering if it detects the vehicle drifting out of its lane without signalling. This helps to reduce the chance of accidents caused by lapses in concentration.
• Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist
• This feature detects vehicles in your blind spot and can intervene with braking if a collision risk is detected while changing lanes.
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning
• Rear-Cross-Traffic Collision Warning monitors traffic while you reverse out of a parking space and applies the brakes automatically if a vehicle is approaching from the side.
• High Beam Assist
• High Beam Assist automatically switches between high and low beams based on surrounding traffic, improving visibility without dazzling other drivers.
• Safe Exit Assist
• Safe Exit Assist warns passengers not to open their doors if traffic is approaching from behind, helping them to exit the car safely.
• Parking Assist
• Parking Assist uses sensors, making tight spaces easier to navigate. This in-built feature can help to make everyday scenarios feel less stressful while supporting better safety during routine manoeuvres, like parking.

Everyday safety without compromise

From built-in core features to cutting-edge driver assistance technologies, electric cars are setting a new benchmark for road safety.

As technology evolves with EVs, so does the way we think about staying safe on the road. Taking the time to understand the systems working quietly in the background can make every journey a little more reassuring.