Which Electric Cars Are The Safest To Drive?

Electric vehicles (EVs) are not new. They have been around for decades but are only recently starting to compete with conventional fossil-fuel models for market share. The recent improvements in battery and charging technology provide an environmentally sound alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles.

Like most other vehicles on the road, electric cars go through safety testing, although some standards apply specifically to EVs’ unique characteristics, such as the batteries and the chassis. Generally, their low center of gravity makes them less likely to roll over in a crash, making them safer for occupants.

Electric cars, also called “plug-in EVs,” are 100% eco-friendly and can protect the environment. The vehicles do not burn fuel while in motion, eliminating the need to burn fuel in the combustion process.

There are two important entities that provide vehicle safety ratings for both conventional and electric vehicles. They include the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a nonprofit organization, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a governmental agency. Each entity exercises its rating policy plus criteria. Their results, though administered separately, are made public to consumers.

NHTSA Ratings

The NHTSA is a governmental agency that uses crash test dummies to test tests cars in three categories. These categories are front crash, side crash, and rollover. It also allocates an added overall rating for the vehicle. Unfortunately, information on the achievement of these ratings is very little, but the scores range from one to five stars.

The NHTSA has not tested the bulk of EVs on the road today. However, here are the 2020 results that they have posted to help consumers better understand what they’re buying.

·       Chevrolet

The Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle garnered an overall rating of 5 stars;

• Front Crash: 4 stars
• Side Crash: 5 stars
• Rollover: 5 stars

These ratings put the Chevrolet Bolt EV as a safe option for drivers.

·       Tesla

The NHTSA also posted the result ratings for two of Tesla’s Model 3 and X, the Long Range AWD and the Standard Range Plus. The 2020 results were as follows:

• Model 3 Long Range AWD the ratings were; Overall: 5 stars; Front Crash: 5 stars; Side Crash: 5 stars; Rollover: 5 stars
• Model 3 Performance AWD the ratings were; Overall: 5 stars; Front Crash: 5 stars; Side Crash: 5 stars; Rollover: 5 stars
• Model 3 Standard Range Plus the ratings were; Overall: 5 stars; Front Crash: 5 stars; Side Crash: 5 stars; Rollover: 5 stars
• Model X Long Range Plus the ratings were; Overall: 5 stars; Front Crash: 5 stars; Side Crash: 5 stars; Rollover: 5 stars

These Tesla models proved to be safe for driving which was evident in the more than 50% increase in sales in the U.S in 2020.

IIHS Ratings

The IIHS vehicle safety ratings are an evaluation of a vehicle’s performance in four areas:

• Measurements from crash-test dummies
• Airbag performance
• Seat belt effectiveness
• Survival space (measured by the impact of the crash on the passenger compartment)

IIHS uses two scales. One consists of ratings such as Good (G), Acceptable (A), Marginal (M), or Poor (P). The other scale comprises Basic, Advanced, and Superior. The following tests administer these ratings;

• Crash worthiness: the strength of the car’s protective features during a
• Crash avoidance and mitigation: this is the technology that prevents a collision or lessens its severity

The IIHS Top Safety Pick+ applies to vehicles that

• gain good or acceptable ratings in all crash worthiness tests
• get an advanced or superior rating for a crash-prevention system
• get a good rating for headlights.

It is worth noting that the criteria for these classifications change every year.

Crash worthiness Testing

There are six different crash worthiness tests.

• Driver-side small overlap front
• Passenger-side small overlap front,
• Moderate overlap front,
• side strength
• roof strength
• head restraints and seats

These three factors determine a vehicle’s rating;

• the vehicle’s structural strength after the crash
• the injuries on the test dummies
• the efficiency of the vehicle’s restraints and airbags

Front Crash Prevention Testing

The automatic emergency braking features in some vehicles undergo testing to prove that they can detect collisions between cars and pedestrians successfully

IIHS Headlight Ratings

This is a very significant category in the IIHS ratings. Rating in this category has eliminated models away from a Top Safety Pick rating. Each headlight undergoes testing on the gradual left and right curves plus straight-aways and sharp left and right curves.

The distance between the vehicle and the furthest point where the headlights light up the road at 5 lux or more defines the rating. Also included in the ratings are the visibility situations plus the amount of glare the headlights produce for oncoming vehicles.

LATCH Ease of Use Testing

Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) simplify the installation of child seats.

The electric vehicles ratings for 2020 include:

·       BMW

The i3 Four-Door Hatchback earned a G rating of five of six crash worthiness categories, an A in the residual crash worthiness test; an advanced rating for front crash prevention; and an A rating in the ease-of-use of the child latch testing.

·       Chevrolet

The Bolt four-door Hatchback made it to the IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2020.

·       Nissan

Two models tested include;

• Leaf Four-Door Hatchback: It received a G rating in all three crash worthiness tests apart from the crash mitigation test. It received a rating of M on the ease-of-use for child latch testing.
• Leaf Plus Four-Door Hatchback: It received a G rating in all three crash worthiness tests except the crash mitigation test. It received a rating of M for child latch ease-of-use testing.

●      Tesla

The Tesla’s Model 3, four-door sedan, made it to the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for 2020. The Model S four-door Hatchback earned a poor rating for its headlights.

Many electric vehicles lack NHTSA or IIHS safety ratings, but there are alternatives worth considering. However, we need to consider the fact that there is no combustion engine and lighter frames, which can positively impact the efficiency of the vehicles.