Mercedes-Benz has become the world’s first car manufacturer to publicly conduct a frontal offset crash between two electric vehicles
Going beyond legal requirements and Euro NCAP stipulations, Mercedes-Benz used two real vehicles, an EQA and an EQS SUV, which are around 2.2 and 3 tonnes respectively and crashed the cars, each travelling at 56 km/h.
The vehicles’ extensive deformation following the collision may seem alarming to the non-expert, however, for the Mercedes-Benz engineers, 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 switched off automatically during the collision.
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.
Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer said, “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. We are working hard to achieve our vision of accident-free driving, which goes beyond the “Vision Zero” objectives set by the WHO and the United Nations Regional Commissions. Our goal by 2050 is zero accidents involving a Mercedes-Benz vehicle.”
Mercedes-Benz has developed a multi-stage high-voltage protection concept for its electric vehicles. The system has eight key elements to ensure the safety of the battery and all components with a voltage above 60 volts. Examples include separate positive and negative wiring and a self-monitoring high-voltage system that automatically switches off in the event of a serious collision. In many cases, the company’s high internal safety standards exceed the legal requirements or those of consumer protection organisations. Mercedes‑Benz has impressively demonstrated this once again with the latest crash test.
Damage to alloy wheels through...
