3:00 pm, February 23, 2011
EURO NCAP has published the results of its first crash test of the electric plug-in car – the Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
The fully-electric Mitsubishi and its Citroen and Peugeot sisters scored four stars; a ‘credible’ rating says Euro NCAP.
Dr Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP’s secretary general says: ‘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 five 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.’
Euro NCAP tests plug-in vehicles with live batteries and the cars are exposed to the same test conditions as the other cars in the programme. Special attention is given to post-crash battery integrity and the proper functioning of the battery cut-off switch that isolates the high-voltage battery in the event of a crash.
Other cars tested include the Dacia Duster, Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Juke and the Hyundai ix20. Dacia’s small-4×4 ‘failed to impress’ Euro NCAP scoring an overall rating of three stars; 28 per cent in pedestrian protection and 29 per cent for safety assist.
Euro NCAP concluded: ‘It is disappointing that a mother company like Renault does not give safety the same priority in Dacia cars as it does in cars sold under its own brand.’
In contrast, the ASX, Juke and ix20 scored the maximum five star rating.
