Electric & Hybrid Cars Have Better IIHS Safety Ratings Than Gasmobiles

Earlier this year, we published a free report on EV safety, The EV Safety Advantage. As we approach the end of the year, we’re publishing sections of that report as articles here on CleanTechnica.

In this section of the report, 7 charts help to show that plug-in electric vehicles and hybrids score significantly better in IIHS safety ratings. (Some modifications have been made for this article format.)

Electric & Hybrid Vehicles Have Overall Better IIHS Ratings Than ICE Vehicles

The IIHS and Australian NCAP have crash tested 42 hybrid and/or electric vehicles in various test scenarios. Ratings of good, acceptable, marginal or poor are awarded to the vehicle in each test mode by IIHS.

⇒ The electric/hybrid vehicles have a higher proportion of good IIHS ratings in the moderate overlap front test, side impact test, and roof strength test than conventionally powered vehicles from the same vehicle classes and model years.

⇒ Three IIHS small overlap crash tests of electric/hybrid vehicles resulted in poor structural ratings, and six IIHS side impact tests resulted in acceptable structural ratings. However, the area surrounding the vehicles’ high-voltage battery (RESS) was intact in all cases, with no electrical safety issues. Moreover, of the 12 HEV/ PEV models tested since IIHS incorporated a 2-week posttest observation period, none have caught fire.

Driving a Hybrid Vehicle Reduces the Injury Odds in a Collision, According to IIHS

Analyses included 25+ hybrid-conventional pairs, all 2003-20011 models with at least one collision claim and at least one related injury claim filed under personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payment (MedPay) coverage in 2002-2010.

Due to the extra weight of RESS, hybrids are 10% heavier than their conventional counterparts. This extra mass provides a slight safety advantage in some types of crashes, such as those involving other vehicles.

⇒ A study by the Highway Loss Data Institute estimated the odds that a crash would result in injuries if people were riding in a hybrid vs their conventional counterpart.

⇒ The results of the study indicate that injury odds are lower in electric vehicles than in their conventional counterparts.

Among Large Luxury Cars, Tesla Model S is 61% Better than Average Large Luxury Cars in Terms of Personal Injury Claims

Among Small 4-Door Cars, Chevrolet Volt is 29% Better than Average Small 4-Door Cars in Terms of Personal Injury Claims, and Nissan LEAF is 17% Better

For more on this topic, download The EV Safety Advantage, a free report from CleanTechnica.