The New Car Assessment Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean, Latin NCAP, published its first test of an Electric Vehicle. The JAC E10x, also called EJS1 and E-S1, showed a concerning zero star performance.

The safety assessment of Electric Vehicles are focused, as with internal combustion engine cars, on adult, child, pedestrian/Vulnerable Road Users and driving assistance technologies, using the same Assessment Protocol, independent of powertrain. In the case of Battery Based Electric Vehicles (BEV) additional aspects like electric shock risk and battery cut-off systems are assessed. Also, during testing preparations some other precautions need to be considered, for example emergency electric cutoff switches placed in areas of easy access after the crash test.

In relation to safety regulations, it is the same as all other cars, safety regulations in Latin American and the Caribbean are very weak, at least 20 years behind Europe. This result reflects that as well considering that EVs, like any other car, should comply with the same safety regulations.

There might be some extra requirements for EVs that are not required for internal combustion cars like the emergency cut off switch to prevent the risk of electric shock. The JAC did not cut its electric power after the frontal test which should have been the case if the emergency cut off would have been present and working properly. Also in the side impact, the cut off system indicated that it was activated but the car could still be driven and moved, so the battery was still connected and running.

 

 

The JAC E10x was tested for frontal impact, side impact, whiplash, and pedestrian protection. It scored 0.00 percent in Adult Occupant, 6.34 percent in Child Occupant, 20.25 percent in Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users, and 6.98 percent in Safety Assist.

 

 

Latin NCAP notes: "The model showed unstable structure and unstable footwell area in the frontal impact with poor protection to driver's chest, which means a high probability of life-threatening injuries leading to zero points in the frontal crash for adult safety."

Source: Latin NCAP