Allaying lingering safety concerns, the first mainstream electric cars crash tested by
The Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in battery/gasoline hybrid that can run in electric-only mode and the Nissan Leaf, which runs on battery power alone, received the highest possible rating from the IIHS. Joe Nolan, the Institute's chief administrative officer said the electric cars were subjected to the same tests as gasoline-powered models.
"The way an electric or hybrid model earns top crash test ratings is the same way any other car does," Nolan says. "Its structure must manage crash damage so the occupant compartment stays intact and the safety belts and airbags keep people from hitting hard surfaces in and out of the vehicle. What powers the wheels is different, but the level of safety for the Volt and Leaf is as high as any of our other top crash test performers.”
Nolan says the tests may help put to rest the notion that energy efficient cars are not safe as heavier vehicles. He noted that despite the fact that the Volt and Leaf are classified as small cars, their hefty battery packs put their curb weights closer to midsize and larger cars, and this added bulk helped influence the electric car’s crashworthiness.
"The Leaf and Volt's extra mass gives them a safety advantage over other small cars," Nolan says. "These electric models are a win-win for fuel economy and safety."
