World’s first public crash test involving two fully electric vehicles
- 6 months ago
A car company say they have carried out the world’s first public crash test involving two fully electric vehicles.
Motoring giant Mercedes-Benz smashed two cars into each other at almost 35mph.
The impact test was designed to show how the electric cars surpassed minimum safety requirements, especially when weighty battery packs can make EVs heavier than petrol or diesel-fueled motors.
The crash test, at the Group’s Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety in Sindelfingen, saw EQA and EQS SUV models collide head-on with a 50 percent overlap in a real-life accident scenario, each travelling at 56 km/h (34.8 mph).
This scenario was designed to replicate an accident common on rural roads, often involving a failed overtaking action.
The German manufacturer explains: "With the world’s first public crash test involving two fully electric vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is going above and beyond not only the legal requirements but also those of the ratings industry.
"Euro NCAP stipulates a frontal impact test using a 1,400 kg trolley with an aluminium honeycomb barrier replicating the front of another vehicle.
"In accordance with the specifications, the test vehicle and the trolley collide with an overlap and at a speed of 50 km/h.
"Mercedes-Benz, however, used two real vehicles, an EQA and an EQS SUV, which are significantly heavier at around 2.2 and three tonnes respectively.
"In addition, both models were faster, each going 56 km/h, which meant that the overall crash energy was considerably higher than required by law."
The firm say the vehicles’ extensive deformation following the collision may seem alarming to the non-expert.
For the Mercedes-Benz engineers, however, it shows that the vehicles were able to effectively absorb the energy of the collision by deforming.
As a result, the passenger safety cell of both electric models remained intact and the doors could still be opened.
In an emergency, this would make it possible for occupants to exit the vehicle on their own or for first responders and rescue personnel to reach them.
The high-voltage system in the EQA and the EQS SUV was reported to have switched off automatically during the collision.
Mercedes add: "The crash test at the Group’s Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety in Sindelfingen demonstrates Mercedes‑Benz’s real-life safety philosophy: To make cars that hold up not only in defined crash test scenarios, but also in real-life accidents.
"The test scenario involving a speed of 56 km/h and 50 percent frontal overlap corresponds to a type of accident common on rural roads, for example during a failed overtaking manoeuvre."
The speed selected for the test takes into account that, in a real-life accident, the drivers would still try to brake before the worst case of a collision.
Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, says: "Safety is part of Mercedes-Benz’s DNA and one of our core commitments to all road users. And to us, protecting human lives is not a question of drive system.
"The recent crash test involving two fully electric vehicles demonstrates this. It proves that all our vehicles have an equally high level of safety, no matter what technology drives them."
Motoring giant Mercedes-Benz smashed two cars into each other at almost 35mph.
The impact test was designed to show how the electric cars surpassed minimum safety requirements, especially when weighty battery packs can make EVs heavier than petrol or diesel-fueled motors.
The crash test, at the Group’s Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety in Sindelfingen, saw EQA and EQS SUV models collide head-on with a 50 percent overlap in a real-life accident scenario, each travelling at 56 km/h (34.8 mph).
This scenario was designed to replicate an accident common on rural roads, often involving a failed overtaking action.
The German manufacturer explains: "With the world’s first public crash test involving two fully electric vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is going above and beyond not only the legal requirements but also those of the ratings industry.
"Euro NCAP stipulates a frontal impact test using a 1,400 kg trolley with an aluminium honeycomb barrier replicating the front of another vehicle.
"In accordance with the specifications, the test vehicle and the trolley collide with an overlap and at a speed of 50 km/h.
"Mercedes-Benz, however, used two real vehicles, an EQA and an EQS SUV, which are significantly heavier at around 2.2 and three tonnes respectively.
"In addition, both models were faster, each going 56 km/h, which meant that the overall crash energy was considerably higher than required by law."
The firm say the vehicles’ extensive deformation following the collision may seem alarming to the non-expert.
For the Mercedes-Benz engineers, however, it shows that the vehicles were able to effectively absorb the energy of the collision by deforming.
As a result, the passenger safety cell of both electric models remained intact and the doors could still be opened.
In an emergency, this would make it possible for occupants to exit the vehicle on their own or for first responders and rescue personnel to reach them.
The high-voltage system in the EQA and the EQS SUV was reported to have switched off automatically during the collision.
Mercedes add: "The crash test at the Group’s Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety in Sindelfingen demonstrates Mercedes‑Benz’s real-life safety philosophy: To make cars that hold up not only in defined crash test scenarios, but also in real-life accidents.
"The test scenario involving a speed of 56 km/h and 50 percent frontal overlap corresponds to a type of accident common on rural roads, for example during a failed overtaking manoeuvre."
The speed selected for the test takes into account that, in a real-life accident, the drivers would still try to brake before the worst case of a collision.
Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, says: "Safety is part of Mercedes-Benz’s DNA and one of our core commitments to all road users. And to us, protecting human lives is not a question of drive system.
"The recent crash test involving two fully electric vehicles demonstrates this. It proves that all our vehicles have an equally high level of safety, no matter what technology drives them."