THE first thing that Elon Musk did to get his Tesla project off the ground was to build a sports car that was capable of mind-blowing speed and acceleration.

The Roadster model famously hit 100km/h from standstill in under four seconds and was also able to reach a top speed of 200km/h in 2008 and an approximate range of 400km on a single charge.

Musk was certainly right in his assumption that outstanding performance figures were required to capture a sceptical public’s attention.

Fast forward 15 years later and the Tesla tycoon’s tactic seems spot on. Walk into any car dealership featuring electric vehicles (EVs) and you will be guaranteed a sales pitch that harps on the car’s amazing power and acceleration.

Nothing wrong with that. The “fun” factor should definitely be a consideration when purchasing a new ride.

The thing is that such high-powered acceleration is no longer limited to high-end sports models with run-of-the-mill sedans and MPVs capable of some serious tyre burning.

Ask anyone who has made the transition from the old gasoline-powered cars to an EV and they will confirm that these new-fangled drives are capable of mind-blowing performances.

The question that needs to be asked now is should an entirely new category of driver’s license be created for EVs. The basics of driving remain the same but the level of skill required is a totally different ball game.

The torque on many of these EVs is very impressive and some novice drivers may find it difficult to properly control the vehicle.

A recent accident on the DUKE highway involving a BMW i7 highlights this. It was reported that the mishap tragically claimed the life of the 19-year-old driver who lost control of the car. A passenger of the car remains in critical condition.

The tragic episode was reported by BFM on its X (formerly Twitter) and generated some responses that reflect the need for a different class of licenses for EVs.

Here is a sample:

If not an entirely new category of license, perhaps stricter measures must be in place to regulate the use of such powerful EVs.

Many netizens questioned the wisdom of handing the keys of such a car to a 19-year-old driver. The authorities may want to consider banning novice drivers from commandeering EVs till a certain age.

One netizen perhaps summed it up best with this succinct observation.

FocusM believes it is imperative that some measures are taken to prevent further mishaps like the one above. Malaysian roads are dangerous enough as they are without a new breed of speedsters joining the Mat Rempit in creating even more hazards.

Over to you, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook …. - April 16, 2024

https://focusmalaysia.my/should-different-licenses-be-required-for-e-vehicle-drivers-in-malaysia/