Nissan Leaf Gets Top European Safety Rating
By Danny King May 25, 2011
The Nissan Leaf received the top safety rating from a European-government-backed crash-test monitoring program, indicating that the all-electric vehicle is safer than most cars and light-duty trucks in the event of an accident. The European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP), which tests vehicles for tests for frontal impact, side impact, side pole impact and the potential for whiplash, gave the Leaf a five-star crash-test rating and said its battery pack withstood all impacts. The five-seat battery-electric vehicle (BEV) received an 89 percent rating for adult safety, 84 percent for its on-board safety-assist systems and 83 percent for child protection.
“Nissan Leaf proves that EVs can achieve the same safety levels as traditional cars,” said Euro NCAP Secretary General Michiel van Ratingen, in the statement. “The standard is now set for the next generation of such cars on the European market.” For customers who may be deterred from buying the car because there’s been no official rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Euro NCAP rating may reassure potential buyers concerned about whether electric-drive vehicles are as safe in a crash as conventional cars. Current Leaf stickers have a “not rated” denotation for safety. Nissan North America spokesman Tim Gallagher told Auto Observer that there’s been no update in the U.S. testing status on the Leaf, as NHTSA testing hasn’t yet been conducted.
The Euro NCAP rating is consistent with results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) test. Last month, that group, in the first-ever U.S. crash test evaluations of plug-in electric cars, determined that both the Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid are worthy of the institute’s highest safety ratings. 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.
Danny King: is a frequent contributor to AutoObserver.com.
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