In-depth Analysis: Are Electric Vehicles Safe? Safety Review and Details of Electric Cars in India

Like any new technology, EVs have been the subject of skepticism, trepidation, and uncertainty. Occasionally, even rumours. Indeed, some individuals are concerned about the safety of electric automobiles. Even if there have been some reasons for worry, it's crucial to see the truth through the smoke. While EVs may have a unique set of issues, many have been resolved because of the significant R&D and industry knowledge hired by OEMs, who work daily to advance EV technology.

 

First, it's crucial to remember that all-electric cars are produced according to the same stringent design and manufacturing standards as their gasoline- and diesel-powered counterparts. They follow the same meticulous approach, spending nearly too much time obsessing about making the equipment as secure as possible. To further emphasize the effort, the majority of manufacturers in Europe also submit their EV vehicles for evaluation by Euro NCAP, with virtually all of them performing on par with comparable size and fitted internal combustion cars.

 

In Events of Crashes

 

All EVs are constructed by specific manufacturing and safety rules and go through rigorous testing. Every nation has a set of safety testing requirements that make the equipment as secure as feasible. Fundamentally, if utilized with adequate risk management, lithium-ion batteries used in EVs are the safest technology now accessible. But haven't there ever been cases of haphazard, unplanned EV fires? Yes and no, I suppose. EV fires have been reported, although it is improbable that Li-ion battery fires never occur independently. Physical harm, such as that sustained in a vehicle accident, or batteries exposed to temperatures over their acceptable functioning range are typically the root causes. Most EVs have taken precautions against both of these possible dangers.

If the worst happens, thermal runaway is the most significant possible issue with an EV's lithium-ion battery. In essence, the flammable electrolyte within one of the damaged cells might catch fire and ignite, blazing above 1,000 degrees Celsius as it exhausts all the stored energy. Hundreds or even thousands of cells may start burning if the increased heat destroys nearby cells, setting off a chain reaction that can make the fire more intense and challenging to put out. Instead, it would help if you waited for the fire to effectively "burn" itself out.

A crash- and tamper-proof construction protects EV batteries. EVs feature a technology that immediately disengages the batteries during collisions to offer an extra level of safety. Special pyro fuses are set off when several sensors detect a collision, cutting the interface to the high-voltage lines. Within microseconds, this operation is complete.

 

What is NCAP?

 

The New Car Assessment Program is known as NCAP. The USA was the first nation to develop a program in 1978 that informed customers about the crashworthiness of cars and later included crash testing and the publication of the findings. 

Ratings from the Global NCAP are only focused on front-impact crash testing. To mimic a face collision between two vehicles, front offset crash tests are used. In the Global NCAP test, the car is driven into a collapsible barrier at 64 kph with 40 percent overlap, simulating a collision between two similarly sized vehicles traveling at 50 kph. 

According to the most recent safety standards established by the Indian government, a car must pass frontal impact and lateral collision crash standards to be approved for sale. Although slower than the Global NCAP's front offset crash test speed, the front offset test done by the Indian government complies with UN Regulation 94 for front shock absorbent at 56 kph.

 

 

Now we will look into some electric cars with efficient safety features and compare them with the globally tested scrutinies.

 

BYD ATTO 3

 

The

BYD

Atto 3 EV was awarded a five-star safety rating in the Euro NCAP crash test. On October 11, the carmaker unveiled the BYD Atto 3 electric SUV in India, and immediately after that, the Euro NCAP released the results of the crash tests. According to Euro NCAP testing, the BYD Atto scored 91% for adult protection and 89% for kid safety. The Ev received a score of 74% on the protection assistance component.

 

The top-spec variant of such a five-door electric SUV has seven airbags, among other safety measures. According to the Chinese carmaker, it also has Level 2 ADAS capabilities, making it among the safest electric SUVs.

 

MG Zs

 

For adult occupant safety, the

MG ZS

scored 32.27 out of a possible 36.00. The SUV received a score of 14.27 out of 16 for the front crash test, a score of 16 out of 16 for the side crash test, and a score of 2 out of 4 for the head safety system offered by the ZS. The head and leg safety for the pilot and front passenger received a satisfactory rating. However, the driver's chest protection received a mediocre rating, while the front passenger's chest and proper knee safety received an acceptable rating.

 

The ZS model that was tested was the base C+ model, which has a seatbelt warning system for both the driver and front passenger, as well as a seatbelt latching mechanism, pre-tensioner, and load limiter. It also has twin front airbags, ABS, and ESC. The ZS has flank and frontal airbags as extra features for additional safety equipment.

 

HYUNDAI KONA

 

In a 2017 test, the petrol-powered

Hyundai Kona

received a perfect score of 5. The Kona Electric was put through a frontal offset crash test by ANCAP as part of an audit test, and it passed with a score of 14.97 out of 16, earning it a 5-star grade. The all-electric model outperformed the regular model, which scored 14.07/16.00. At 64 kph, a virtual head-on crash with some other vehicle of comparable mass is part of the frontal offset test. It has dual airbags and a flank-protecting airbag system with other auxiliary safety components.

 

Hyundai India asserts that the Kona Electric's 39.2kWh battery can enable a range of 452 kilometers (Modified Indian Driving Cycle). It is an electric motor that can produce 395Nm of torque and 136PS power, reaching 100 kph in 9.7 seconds. The crossover SUV is compatible with fast charging as well, and it takes 57 minutes to charge from empty to 80% with a 50kW charger. 

 

TATA NEXON

 

In 2018, the

Tata Nexon

became the first automobile produced in India to receive a perfect 5-star safety rating from the Global NCAP crash test. In the Global NCAP crash test, the Tata Nexon received an excellent 5-star rating for adult passenger safety and a 3-star rating for child seat protection. The Nexon scored 16.06 out of a possible 17 for adult passenger safety. It received 25.00 out of a possible 49 points for protecting young occupants. The Tata Nexon's bodyshell was certified as stable and qualified to bear additional loads.

 

The

Tata Nexon

comes with two airbags as a passive safety precaution. All Nexon's wheels feature ABS in four channels since it is a standard fitting for all automobiles to have anti-lock brakes in a complete channel form. The manufacturer also included the seat belt reminder as a standard feature for the driver and passenger sides.

The Tata Nexon is available with a 1.5-liter turbodiesel engine that produces 110 horsepower and 260 Nm of peak torque and a 1.2-liter turbo petrol engine that produces 120 hp and 170 Nm. Both a 6-speed manual and an AMT gearbox are available. The Nexon is priced ex-showroom between Rs. 7.55 lakh and Rs. 13.90 lakh.

 

TATA TIGOR

 

The EV received a 4-star rating thanks to testing scores of 12.12 out of a possible 17.24 for adult occupants and 37.24 out of a possible 49 for kid occupants. The skull and chest shielding for the adult and kid passengers was rated as "excellent" by Global NCAP, and the driver's protection was rated as "sufficient." The

Tigor EV's

bodyshell and footwell region, however, were classified as "unstable."  

 

The

Tigor EV

, which has two airbags and Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) for the driver and passenger as standard equipment, was evaluated (tested at 64 km/hr) in its most basic safety specification. It shields the passengers from hitting objects like hard surfaces in the case of a frontal collision. The directional control and danger reduction of the ABS occur during emergency braking.

 

After the Tata Nexon EV, the Tigor EV is the second electric car offered to private purchasers by Tata Motors. The tiny sedan's "Ziptron" technology from the manufacturer gives it a top power and torque output of 75 horsepower and 170 Nm. The 2021 Tigor EV is the revived, high-end version of the Tigor EV that inspired Tata Motors' 2017 debut in the EV market. Tata Tigor's pricing ranges from Rs. 6.00 Lakh to Rs. 8.84 Lakh. Tata Tigor is available in 18 versions, with the XE model serving as the base model.

 

Tata Tiago

 

The crash test organisation has awarded the

Tata Tiago

a commendable 4-star rating in the adult protection category. Under the organization's #SaferCarsForIndia programme, the compact car was evaluated and excelled.

 

For the protection of kid passengers, the Tata Tiago received a 4-star certification. According to Global NCAP, the 3-year-old and 1.5-year-old child seats were mounted in RWF utilising the adult seatbelt. The rear centre seat of the Tiago is equipped with a lap belt; however, ISOFIX anchors are absent. All of the aforementioned factors combine to give kid occupant protection a 4-star rating. The Tiago comes standard with dual front airbags, ABS, CSC, and rear parking sensors. The overall safety features is quite commendable. Although according to NCAP rating, it can improve even further and acquire good ratings on the child passenger and front leg protection.

 

The Tata Tiago has a starting price of Rs. 5.40 Lakh and a maximum price of Rs. 7.82 Lakh. The Tata Tiago is available in 14 versions, with the XE model serving as the entry-level model and the XZ Plus Dual Tone Roof CNG, which has a starting price of Rs. 7.82 Lakh, as the highest option.

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

Many other automobile giants are producing outstanding Evs in the market in the upcoming years. We should also keep an eye out for the features and, of course, the safety.

As electric vehicles are the convenient automobiles that will frame the future, it is also a dangerous option if neglected & operated carelessly. The only way to avoid this is a safe drive. Before even going for an Electric car, you should always look for nooks in the features and their safety systems.