Mercedes-Benz has conducted the first public crash test using two fully electric cars, exceeding both legal mandates and industry rating norms. Euro NCAP usually requires a frontal collision test where a 1,400 kg trolley fitted with an aluminum honeycomb barrier mimics the front of another vehicle. The test calls for a 50 km/h collision speed between the trolley and the test vehicle. Mercedes-Benz opted for a more stringent test, using actual cars—an EQA and an EQS SUV—weighing around 2.2 and three tonnes each. Both vehicles also collided at a faster speed of 56 km/h, making the crash energy much higher than the standard requirement.
Though the severe deformation of the vehicles post-collision might appear concerning to a layperson, it's a positive outcome for the engineers at Mercedes-Benz. The deformity indicates that the cars effectively absorbed the collision energy, keeping the passenger safety cell intact and doors operable. This would allow for a quick exit in a real-world emergency, or enable first responders to access the occupants. Both vehicles automatically shut down their high-voltage systems during the crash.
The 56 km/h speed and 50% frontal overlap used in the test simulate a common type of accident on rural roads, like those that occur during botched overtaking attempts. The test speed assumes that drivers would attempt to brake before a full-on collision in a real-world scenario.
The EQA and EQS SUVs carried a total of three female and one male dummy. Data collected from up to 150 points on each dummy showed a low likelihood of severe to fatal injuries, confirming the effectiveness of the crumple zones and restraint systems in the cars. All safety features, including airbags and belt tensioners, performed as expected, corroborating prior computer simulation findings.
The test also highlighted the use of a specific type of dummy—the Hybrid III 5th Percentile Female, representing a woman about 1.5 meters tall and weighing roughly 49 kilograms. Another female dummy was in the EQA, while a Hybrid III 50th Percentile male dummy, representing a 78-kilogram male of average height, was in the EQS SUV.
Since 2016, Mercedes-Benz has been running crash tests at their own Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety in Sindelfingen, which is among the world's largest and most advanced. The facility boasts three versatile crash lanes that lead into an expansive, pillar-free area of over 8,000 square meters. The Sindelfingen center has the capacity to carry out up to 900 crash tests and 1,700 sled tests annually.
Source: Mercedes-Benz