Crash test of two Mercedes electric vehicles (4 photos + 1 video)

Mercedes-Benz conducted pioneering crash tests using two pure electric vehicles, the EQS 450 SUV and the EQA 300, to better understand the safety implications of electric vehicle crashes.





A detailed demonstration of both the impact itself and its consequences was the company’s response to one of the most common myths about electric cars - their fire hazard in an accident. In this case, the chance of a battery fire increases exponentially.

Mercedes-Benz said that the test was carried out according to more stringent requirements than those used, for example, in EuroNCAP. The cars were pushed against a 50 percent overlap, each traveling at 56 km/h (the EuroNCAP test car has a speed of 50 km/h, the same as the deformable zone barrier cart). According to the company's calculations, this scenario simulates a real traffic situation: a similar collision could occur, for example, when overtaking on a two-lane road.

The crash test is intended to show that the power plants of Mercedes-Benz electric cars do not provoke additional consequences. The high-voltage electronics turned off automatically, and the “cage” in which the traction battery is located remained intact in both cases.



The passengers also did not suffer serious injuries. Their roles were played by four mannequins, representing three women and one man. It is stated that no critical overloads have been recorded. Both the energy-absorbing deformation zones of the body and the airbags worked as expected, while the doors of the electric cars could be easily opened after an impact.

Mercedes noted that internal safety standards in some places exceed the requirements of legislation or independent research organizations.

Earlier, in 2019, the Mercedes-Benz EQA was already tested in EuroNCAP, but using the old method - with an impact on a stationary crushable barrier with a 40 percent overlap. As a result, the electric crossover scored all five stars and did not catch fire.