German automaker Mercedes-Benz says it has conducted a “world first” frontal offset crash between two EVs, to underline the safety of its electric vehicles.
European voluntary car safety performance assessment programme Euro NCAP requires a frontal impact test that uses a 1,400kg trolley travelling at 50km/h with an aluminium honeycomb barrier that replicates the front of another vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz, however, recently decided to go one further – conducting a crash test between two of its own electric vehicles – the EQA and EQS SUV.
Both EVs are significantly heavier than the 1,400kg required in Euro NCAP simulations, measuring 2.2 tonnes and 3 tonnes respectively. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz conducted the test at 56km/h, meaning that the overall crash energy was considerably higher than required by law.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cWxIQhGyJA
“The vehicles’ extensive deformation following the collision may seem alarming to the non-expert,” Mercedes-Benz said in its press release.
“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 both the EQA and the EQS SUV also switched off automatically during the collision, ensuring the safety of the battery and all components with a voltage above 60 volts.
A total of four adult crash test dummies were involved – three females and one male. Analysis of the up to 150 measuring points per dummy showed a low risk of serious to fatal injury during the crash.
This means that the defined crumple zones and advanced restraint systems in both vehicles provided significant protection potential for the occupants in a crash of this severity. Further, all safety equipment, including airbags and belt tensioners with belt force limiters, worked as intended.
The crash test was conducted at Mercedes-Benz’s Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety in Sindelfingen, Germany, and demonstrated not only the safety of electric vehicles but also Mercedes-Benz’s efforts to make cars that survive real-life crashes, not just defined crash test scenarios.
“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,” said Markus Schäfer, member of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG and chief technology officer.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.