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Euro NCAP (the European New Car
Assessment Programme) has
awarded the 100% electric Nissan
LEAF the highest five star car
safety rating following its
performance in the independent
organisation’s stringent crash
tests. The Nissan LEAF is the
first electric vehicle ever to
earn this distinction.
The reigning European and
World Car of the Year earned an
89% rating for adult safety, an
83% rating for child protection
and an 84% rating for its
on-board safety assist systems,
which include Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) and a
speed limiter as standard. The
compact family hatchback also
earned a higher-than-average 65%
score for pedestrian safety,
thanks in part to the low nose
design and the comparative lack
of ‘hard points’ under the
bonnet.
“The Nissan LEAF proves that EVs
can achieve the same safety
levels as traditional cars. The
standard is now set for the next
generation of such cars on the
European market,” said Euro NCAP
Secretary General Michiel van
Ratingen.
Nissan LEAF’s safety assessment
followed standard Euro NCAP
procedure, with tests for
frontal impact, side impact,
side pole impact and whiplash.
The car’s 48 lithium-ion battery
modules, which are housed in a
special compartment beneath the
floor, completely withstood all
the impacts.
The EV’s battery system was
switched on during the crash
simulations to test the in-built
safety measures of the
electrical system, which
includes automatic cut-off
isolation in the event of an
accident. The car passed those
with flying colours, too.
“We are not surprised by these
results,” said Jerry Hardcastle,
Nissan’s vice president of
vehicle design & development.
“Nissan LEAF has gone through
more tests than any car we have
ever produced. On top of the
conventional offset barrier and
side impact tests, we have
tested the electrical system in
every way to ensure it can never
be overcharged and that the
isolation programme works as
intended in a crash.”
cy
(IIHS) in the US and is the
second five-star rating for
Nissan in Europe this year. In
February, the compact crossover
Nissan Juke also scored top
marks.
The Nissan LEAF, which went on
sale in the UK in March, has a
range between charges of up to
110 miles, as tested over the
New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).
The family hatchback is powered
by an in-house developed compact
electric motor and inverter in
the front of the car which
drives the front wheels. The AC
motor develops 80 kW of power
and 280 Nm of torque, enough for
a maximum speed of 90mph.
Nissan LEAF comes fully equipped
with features such as climate
control, satellite navigation,
rear-view parking camera, a
quick charge socket and
innovative smart-phone
connectivity. |
