European transport campaigners have cautioned that Tesla’s Cybertruck is too large and sharp for European roads, sparking concerns about the registration of the first electric pickup truck to be introduced in the region.
There is uncertainty surrounding whether the Cybertruck can be operated in Europe due to strict road safety regulations prohibiting sharp edges and mandating speed limiters for vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes when fully loaded. Tesla’s manual indicates that the angular steel vehicle has a Gross vehicle weight of 4 tons. (For comparison, a standard family car like a Ford Focus weighs 1.9 tons.)
Numerous Cybertrucks have already been seen on European roads this year, prompting safety concerns among activists. A campaign group sent a letter to the European Commission and Czech authorities questioning the registration of a Cybertruck and calling for EU-registered Cybertrucks to be removed from public roads.
James Nix of the nonprofit Transportation and Environment expressed concerns about the increasing presence of very large pickup trucks on European streets, posing a threat to safety.
While the European car market has followed North America’s trend towards larger sport utility vehicles, safety and pollution regulations have slowed the proliferation of the most hazardous pickup trucks.
In July, a Cybertruck with an empty weight of 3.025 tons was registered in the Czech Republic, potentially exceeding weight limits when fully loaded. The Czech Ministry of Transport noted discrepancies in the vehicle’s weight data compared to EU regulations.
Norton Slovak, a co-founder of Cybertruck, acknowledged the weight regulation disparity but suggested that the EU revise regulations for electric cars that weigh more than traditional vehicles.
Transport activists have raised concerns about the safety issues of the Cybertruck and its compliance with European road safety standards and have requested that the vehicle be suspended from public roads until further review.
A study found that larger and heavier vehicles pose a higher risk of pedestrian casualties in accidents, particularly affecting women, children, and the elderly.
The European Commission is seeking more information on national safety requirements to evaluate the registration of the Cybertruck in Europe and plans to address this issue in an upcoming meeting with member states’ approving authorities.
Source: www.theguardian.com
