Mercedes-Benz has carried out what is says is the world’s first public crash test involving two fully electric vehicles.
The motoring giant 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.
Two SUVs, an EQA and EQS, were smashed into each other at 34.8mph, with a 50% overlap – meaning the driver’s side of one vehicle hit the driver’s side of the other.
This scenario was designed to replicate an accident common on rural roads, often involving a failed overtaking action.
The test took place at the Group’s Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety in Sindelfingen.
‘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,’ a statement from the German manufacturer said.
‘The European New Car Assessment Programme stipulates a frontal impact test using a 1,400kg trolley [1.4 tonnes] 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 50kmh [30mph].
‘Mercedes-Benz, however, used two real vehicles, an EQA and an EQS SUV, which are significantly heavier at around 2.2 and 3 tonnes respectively.
‘In addition, both models were faster, each going 56kmh, 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 added: ‘The crash test 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 56kmh and 50% 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.
Mercedes-Benz Group chief technology officer Markus Schäfer said the test ‘proves that all our vehicles have an equally high level of safety, no matter what technology drives them’.
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