The all-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV has scored an impressive four stars in the latest round of tests from leading crash safety authority, Euro NCAP.
It is the first time the organisation has tested a fully-electric and publicly available electric car and the results bode well for the electric car industry. What’s even better is that the i-MiEV’s sibling models, the Peugeot iON and Citroen C-Zero also qualify for the four star rating thanks to their same structure and safety equipment.
Electric cars pose a number of unique safety challenges. Despite this, the results show that with minor adjustments, EVs can easily match the safety performance of their combustion counterparts. One of the concerns about EVs relates to the high voltage of the car’s batteries. Euro NCAP tested the plug-in vehicle with a live battery and paid special attention to the post-crash integrity of the battery and proper function of the battery cut-off switch which is designed to isolate its charge in event of a crash.
EuroNCAP were impressed by the i-MiEV’s performance. Dr Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP’s Secretary General said: "We recognize the efforts done by Mitsubishi to demonstrate that plug-in battery powered cars can be as safe as others. It shows that a future 5 star accolade for EVs is not unthinkable. Whether produced by established car manufacturers or by new players on the market, consumers should expect to get electric vehicles that meet the same safety standards as conventional vehicles."
Crash results released this month also include the small off-road 4×4 Dacia Duster which, with an overall rating of 3 stars, failed to impress safety organisation. Scoring only 28% in pedestrian protection and 29% for safety assist, the Duster performs well below the latest level of safety performance demonstrated by other new cars on the European market.
In contrast, the Mitsubishi ASX and the Nissan Juke achieved the coveted 5 star overall rating. Furthermore, Euro NCAP applied 5 stars to the small MPV Hyundai ix20, twin of the KIA Venga tested in 2010. Both cars have the identical safety equipments and interior fittings and are expected to perform identically.
The crash test authority also revealed the winner of its first Euro NCAP Advanced reward of 2011. The Infiniti’s Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system, available on the Infinity FX tested in 2009, is a camera-based technology helping drivers return the vehicle to its travelling lane when an unintentional lane departure is likely.
