EVs feature in expanded ANCAP safety focus

A vision to 2030 establishing the future focus for vehicle safety across the Australian, New Zealand and European new vehicle markets has been released by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) alongside its European counterpart Euro NCAP.

It features EV fire risk and thermal runaway, cyber security and over-the-air (OTA) updates, testing of vehicle-to-other (V2V, V2I and V2X) communication, testing of assisted and automated driving systems and various other changes for star ratings through to 2030.

Reflecting the technology shift to accommodate and encourage assisted and automated driving, the four key areas of ANCAP assessment – in place since 2018 – will also be adjusted to reflect the four distinct phases of a potential crash event: Safe Driving; Crash Avoidance; Crash Protection; and Post-Crash Safety, it adds.

“This change will take effect from 2026, with ANCAP and Euro NCAP moving to a three-year protocol update cycle.”

ANCAP and Euro NCAP will also explore expansion into assessment of additional vehicle types, with a view to assessing the active safety capability of motorcycles and motor scooters (‘powered two wheelers’) and heavy goods vehicles – which includes electrified models.

“This is a milestone day for vehicle safety,” says ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg.

“The release of the 2030 future view establishes the key testing and assessment focus areas for the industry – both for our existing automotive industry stakeholders, and for a new cohort of industry stakeholders that have not previously engaged in the NCAP process,” she explains.

“The move to explore assessment of medium and heavy trucks is a notable shift and seeks to address the overrepresentation of these vehicles in road fatalities and serious injuries.

“What we’re working towards now through this future plan is to acknowledge the changing mobility landscape and the role ANCAP and Euro NCAP can play in further improving vehicle safety over the coming decade.”

Euro NCAP secretary-general Michiel van Ratingen says that by developing timely voluntary standards for advanced safety technology, the two organisations can act as a catalyst for accelerating uptake and promoting best practice – not just for passenger cars, but also in the commercial vehicle fleet.

Both the Australian and New Zealand governments are targeting zero road fatalities and serious injuries by 2050.

“The automotive industry continues to innovate and is already delivering safety systems that go beyond current regulatory requirements,” Hoorweg explains. 

“By setting timely voluntary standards for advanced safety features and technologies, ANCAP continues to be the catalyst for accelerating uptake and promoting best practice across the passenger and commercial vehicle fleet.”

Click here for more information on the 2030 vision.