Safe and green

ANCAP sets out EV and hybrid test principles

Safety and environmental performance are both important to new-vehicle buyers these days.

Though 4WD enthusiasts love their old-school Safaris, Navaras and Hiluxes, the world is moving quickly toward hybrid and EV offerings and governments are signalling the end of sales of new petrol and diesel-fuelled cars – including 4WDs.

The ANCAP organisation has moved with the times and prepared testing processes to alternativepowered models. More than 40 battery electric, plug-in hybrid, hybrid and hydrogen powered vehicles have been tested and rated by ANCAP to date. Crash testing an EV is a different process.

Electrified vehicles (including battery electric, fuel cell and hybrid-electric vehicles) are subjected to the same ANCAP crash protection and crash avoidance tests as any other vehicle rated by ANCAP.

There are safety issues around the testing of ‘green’ vehicles. Some additional elements are monitored by ANCAP as part of the testing process:

The output of the highvoltage battery is monitored. High voltage batteries are fitted with a ‘safety cut-out’ that will rapidly disconnect the battery in the event of a crash. ANCAP monitors the output to record if and when this cut-out operates.

The vehicle body is checked safely for any high-voltage immediately after the crash. If the safety cut-out were to fail and a damaged high-voltage wire was to be in contact with the vehicle body, then a person touching the vehicle could be injured. Test technicians use insulated gloves and stand on a rubber mat to ensure that the vehicle has no high voltages and is safe to touch.

The battery is examined for any sign of damage, such as intrusion into the battery unit, leakage of fluids, fire or abnormal heat.

As part of its star rating progress, ANCAP seeks Rescue Cards from vehicle manufacturers.