German automaker Mercedes-Benz says it has carried out a “world first” frontal offset crash between two EVs, to underline the security of its electrical autos.
European voluntary automotive security efficiency evaluation programme Euro NCAP requires a frontal influence check that makes use of a 1,400kg trolley travelling at 50km/h with an aluminium honeycomb barrier that replicates the entrance of one other automobile.
Mercedes-Benz, nonetheless, just lately determined to go one additional – conducting a crash check between two of its personal electrical autos – the EQA and EQS SUV.
Each EVs are considerably heavier than the 1,400kg required in Euro NCAP simulations, measuring 2.2 tonnes and three tonnes respectively. Moreover, Mercedes-Benz carried out the check at 56km/h, that means that the general crash power was significantly greater than required by regulation.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cWxIQhGyJA
“The autos’ intensive deformation following the collision could seem alarming to the non-expert,” Mercedes-Benz mentioned in its press launch.
“For the Mercedes-Benz engineers, nonetheless, it reveals that the autos have been in a position to successfully soak up the power of the collision by deforming.
“Because of this, the passenger security cell of each electrical fashions remained intact, and the doorways may nonetheless be opened. In an emergency, this might make it doable for occupants to exit the automobile on their very own or for first responders and rescue personnel to succeed in them.”
The high-voltage system in each the EQA and the EQS SUV additionally switched off routinely through the collision, making certain the security of the battery and all elements with a voltage above 60 volts.
A complete of 4 grownup crash check dummies have been concerned – three females and one male. Evaluation of the as much as 150 measuring factors per dummy confirmed a low threat of significant to deadly harm through the crash.
Because of this the outlined crumple zones and superior restraint programs in each autos offered vital safety potential for the occupants in a crash of this severity. Additional, all security tools, together with airbags and belt tensioners with belt pressure limiters, labored as meant.
The crash check was carried out at Mercedes-Benz’s Expertise Centre for Car Security in Sindelfingen, Germany, and demonstrated not solely the security of electrical autos but in addition Mercedes-Benz’s efforts to make automobiles that survive real-life crashes, not simply outlined crash check eventualities.
“The current crash check involving two absolutely electrical autos demonstrates this. It proves that every one our autos have an equally excessive stage of security, it doesn’t matter what expertise drives them,” mentioned Markus Schäfer, member of the board of administration of Mercedes-Benz Group AG and chief expertise officer.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about local weather change, clear expertise, and electrical autos for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electrical autos and clear applied sciences for Renew Financial system and The Pushed since 2012. His most well-liked mode of transport is his ft.