According to a new study from the
HLDI claims batteries make hybrid vehicles 10 percent heavier than conventional counterparts. But while the weight electric batteries may allow the vehicle to slow down faster, they also have a quieting effect.
The study found that hybrids may be as much as 20 percent more likely to be involved in pedestrian accidents because of the lack of engine noise when running on electricity.
In an attempt to remedy this, within the last year Congress has given the Highway Traffic Safety Administration three years to develop a requirement for hybrid and electric models to be equipped with sounds to alert unsuspecting pedestrians.