April 26, 2011 – New Canaan, CT
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released the results of its latest round of crash testing on new vehicles today, and both the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, the first two mass-produced Electric Vehicles in the US, earned top safety ratings.
The IIHS safety ratings, long held as a safety comparison benchmark, put new models through a battery of crash tests designed to simulate real-world occupant protection in an accident. The tests measure front, side, rear and roll-over crash protection. Both the Volt and the Leaf include standard electronic stability control and they both earned the Institute’s ‘Top Safety Pick’ award.
The 2011 Chevy Volt undergoes the IIHS’s rigorous side impact crash testing.
Chevrolet engineers worked diligently to include all of their latest safety and stability research into the Volt. The result is a vehicle that is remarkably solid to the touch. Simply opening and closing a door on the Volt sends a clear message of world-class quality. Getting behind the wheel and taking a drive only confirms that assessment – the Chevy Volt is built to the absolute highest standards.
A view of the Driver’s door on the Chevy Volt after the IIHS front impact crash test reveals virtually no degradation of the passenger compartment.
For more details about the new Chevy Volt, CLICK HERE!
Curious how the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf compare? Well, we know they both did very well in the IIHS crash tests, but how do they difer in real world operation, design and every day driving? Check out this comparison of the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt along with the Toyota Prius.
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Below is a complete copy of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Press Release:
News Release | April 26, 2011
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Chevrolet Volt & Nissan Leaf earn top ratings in 1st U.S. crash tests of mainstream electric cars
ARLINGTON, VA — The Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf earn the highest safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the first-ever U.S. crash test evaluations of plug-in electric cars. The milestone demonstrates that automakers are using the same safety engineering in new electric cars as they do in gasoline-powered vehicles.
The Volt and Leaf earn the top rating of good for front, side, rear, and rollover crash protection. With standard electronic stability control, they qualify as winners of Top Safety Pick, the Institute’s award for state-of-the-art crash protection. The ratings help consumers pick vehicles that offer a higher level of protection than federal safety standards require.
Chevrolet Volt frontal offset test Nissan Leaf frontal offset test
Chevrolet Volt after side impact test Nissan Leaf after side impact test
The addition of the 2 electric cars brings to 80 the number of award winners so far for 2011, including 7 hybrid models. That lifts General Motors’ current model tally to 12 and Nissan’s to 3.
“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,” says Joe Nolan, the Institute’s chief administrative officer.
The dual-power Volt and all-electric Leaf not only surpass benchmarks for protecting occupants in crashes but also exceed current fuel efficiency and emissions standards. Both models are brand new for 2011. The Volt is a plug-in battery/gasoline hybrid that can run in electric-only mode with a range of about 35 miles on a single charge. A gasoline engine kicks in to power the electric motor when the battery is spent. The Leaf runs on battery power alone and has an Environmental Protection Agency-estimated average range of about 73 miles on a single charge
“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.”
The Volt and Leaf are the first mainstream electric cars the Institute has tested. Last year engineers put 2 low-speed electric vehicles through side barrier tests for research purposes. Results for the GEM e2 and Wheego Whip were starkly different from results for the Volt and Leaf. Crash test dummies in the GEM and Wheego recorded data suggesting severe or fatal injuries to real drivers. The GEM and Whip belong to a class of golf cart-like vehicles that aren’t required to meet the same federal safety standards as passenger vehicles. Although growing in popularity, these tiny electrics aren’t designed to mix with regular traffic.
“Eco-minded drivers keen on switching to electric would do well to buy a Leaf or Volt for highway driving instead of a low-speed vehicle if they’re at all concerned about being protected in a crash,” Nolan says.
Small but safe: The Volt and Leaf are classified as small cars, with their overall length, width, and passenger capacity in line with their peers. But their hefty battery packs put their curb weights closer to midsize and larger cars. The Leaf weighs about 3,370 pounds and the Volt about 3,760 pounds. This compares to about 3,200 pounds for Nissan’s Altima, a midsize car, and about 3,580 pounds for Chevrolet’s Impala, a large family car. Larger, heavier vehicles generally do a better job of protecting people in serious crashes than smaller, lighter ones because both size and weight influence crashworthiness.
For years the debate over fuel economy has been about making cars smaller and lighter, changes that could put people at greater risk of dying or being injured in crashes. The Institute long has maintained that advanced technology is key to improving fuel efficiency without downgrading safety.
“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.”
About the award: The Institute awarded the first Top Safety Pick to 2006 models with good ratings for front and side protection and acceptable for rear protection. The bar was raised the next year by requiring a good rear rating and electronic stability control as standard or optional equipment. Last year, the Institute added a requirement that all qualifiers earn a good rating in a roof strength test to assess rollover crash protection. The ratings now cover the 4 most common kinds of injury crashes.