Hybrid Crash Hazards

• Hybrid cars are becoming more popular among drivers, raising awareness about hazards as well. Jeffrey Coolidge/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Hybrid cars are gaining in popularity as drivers continue to look for an alternative to traditional gas-guzzling vehicles. As the hybrid cars of various manufacturers take to the road concerns over crash hazards is on the rise. Hybrids have large battery packs that help to power the car. Concerns over what happens to these batteries in the event of an accident are raising concerns over other safety measures missing in hybrid cars as well.

Battery Acid

• Battery acid is a clear liquid that will burn skin on contact. If a hybrid car is struck in the battery compartment and one or more batteries are compromised, battery acid could begin to leak out. Depending on the extent of the damage and how the car is positioned the rescue workers or passengers trapped inside the car could come in contact with the battery acid and not know it until they have touched it. The result would be a continual burn and dissolving of skin and flesh until the acid can be neutralized.

High Voltage

• Hybrid cars use high-powered battery packs to supply energy to the engine. Depending on how an accident occurs and where the car is struck, this voltage could become a hazard to both rescue personnel and those in the car. If the battery compartment is compromised in an accident, there is a risk that the voltage from the battery could be transferred to the car frame or another portion of the car.

Missing Safety Features

• Many automakers have left safety features out of the hybrid version of their vehicles even though the standard gas-powered version has the safety feature. According to Cars.com, Ford has left their AdvanceTrac stability system out of the hybrids of the Ford Escape because the software isn't compatible with the hybrid onboard computer. Other models, such as the Honda Civic, are missing stability safety measures and improved braking systems that are standard on the non-hybrid version of the Honda Civic. These missing safety measures are often not known by the driver, which can result in more accidents. Stability software is designed to sense the potential of a rollover and react to lower the possibility. Hybrid cars without these measures would lose control unless the driver sensed it and reacted in time.