After awarding the Mitsubishi i-MiEV with a four-star rating, Euro NCAP, which is the European equivalent of the American IIHS, crash tested its second all-electric model, the Nissan Leaf. The Japanese hatchback achieved a five-star rating, becoming the first electric vehicle to do so.
The 2011 European and World Car of the Year received an 89 percent rating for adult safety, 83 percent for child protection and 84 percent for its on-board safety assist systems, which include the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system and a speed limiter as standard. The Nissan Leaf also earned a less impressive score of 65 percent for pedestrian safety.
The vehicle’s battery system was switched on during the crash simulations to test the safety measures of the electrical system, which includes automatic cut-off isolation in the event of an accident. Nissan said the system worked flawlessly. As for the batteries that are housed in a compartment underneath the floor, they were not affected by the impacts.
“Nissan LEAF proves that EVs can achieve the same safety levels as traditional cars. The standard is now set for the next generation of such cars on the European market,” said Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen.
Scroll down to see how the Nissan Leaf performed at Euro NCAP’s crash tests.
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