Video: Mercedes-Benz crash tests two EVs

A Mercedes-Benz EQA and an EQS SUV collided head-on with a 50% overlap in a “real-life accident scenario”, each travelling at 56km/h.

Passenger cell and the high-voltage battery of both vehicles remained intact as intended, doors could be opened and high-voltage systems switched off automatically, says the brand, adding the test clarifies the Mercedes-Benz safety is “not a matter of the drive system”.

Mercedes-Benz says it is the world’s first car manufacturer to publicly conduct a frontal offset crash between two EVs, the new campaign using super slow motion to visualise how the safety systems work together.

The brand says it’s going above and beyond not only the legal requirements but also those of the ratings industry.

Euro NCAP stipulates a frontal impact test using a 1400kg trolley with an aluminium honeycomb barrier replicating the front of another vehicle.

In accordance with the specifications, the test vehicle and the trolley collide with an overlap and at 50km/h.

Mercedes-Benz, however, used two real vehicles – an EQA and an EQS SUV – which are significantly heavier at around 2.2 tonnes and three tonnes respectively.

In addition, both models were faster, each going 56km/h, which meant that the overall crash energy was considerably higher than required by law.

The vehicles’ extensive deformation following the collision may seem alarming to the non-expert, says Mercedes-Benz. For its engineers, however, the test shows the vehicles were able to effectively absorb the energy of the collision by deforming.

The crash test at the group’s Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety in Sindelfingen demonstrates Mercedes‑Benz’s real-life safety philosophy – to make cars that hold up not only in defined crash test scenarios, but also in real-life accidents.

Mercedes-Benz says the test scenario corresponds to a type of accident common on rural roads.

“Safety is part of Mercedes-Benz’s DNA and one of our core commitments to all road users,” says Mercedes-Benz Group AG chief technology officer Markus Schäfer.

“We are working hard to achieve our vision of accident-free driving, which goes beyond the ‘Vision Zero’ objectives set by the WHO and the United Nations Regional Commissions.

“Our goal by 2050 is zero accidents involving a Mercedes-Benz vehicle.”

The EQA and the EQS SUV each carried two adult dummies – a total of three females and one male. Analysis of the up to 150 measuring points per dummy indicate a low risk of serious to fatal injury.

All safety equipment, such as airbags and belt tensioners with belt force limiters, worked as intended, says Mercedes-Benz which has developed a multi-stage high-voltage protection concept for its EVs.

The system has eight key elements to ensure the safety of the battery and all components with a voltage above 60 volts. Examples include separate positive and negative wiring and a self-monitoring high-voltage system that automatically switches off in the event of a serious collision.

A new campaign on EV safety known as “Safety Symphony” focuses on the frontal crash involving the EQA and the EQS SUV.

The film and numerous related assets will appear on all Mercedes-Benz social media channels later this year with the hashtag #allforsafety.