Mercedes-Benz is striving for a future with zero car crashes, and it aims to achieve this milestone by 2050. In pursuit of this goal, the automaker recently performed the first-ever crash test between two electric vehicles in front of journalists, signaling the next steps towards a safer future.
The crash test involved an EQS SUV and an EQA crossover SUV, with a head-on collision at 35 mph. This scenario surpassed any standardized crash test conducted by safety rating agencies. Although both vehicles were totaled, the passenger cells and high-voltage battery packs remained intact. This outcome demonstrated that electric vehicles are just as safe as traditional gas-powered vehicles in crash situations.
Mercedes-Benz plans to conduct a roof-crush test on the crashed EQS SUV, as the front end of the vehicle sustained the most damage during the initial crash test. These tests mark the automaker’s progression in crash testing for its electric vehicle lineup.
While the ultimate objective is to minimize car crashes to zero, the reality remains uncertain. According to Paul Dick, the Director of Vehicle Safety at Mercedes-Benz, there are currently 1.3 million road fatalities worldwide each year. This alarming statistic is equivalent to 12 large planes full of people crashing every day. However, Mercedes-Benz aspires to ensure that none of its vehicles are involved in accidents by 2050.
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Julien Richert, in charge of Mercedes-Benz’s ESF (Experimental Safety Vehicle) program, acknowledges that mixed vehicles, including human-driven and autonomous vehicles, will introduce uncontrolled variables that can lead to accidents. Even in an autonomous future, there will be uncontrolled and unavoidable issues, such as falling tree limbs, which can pose safety risks. To mitigate these risks, future vehicles will need to effectively communicate with the environment, including pedestrians and other drivers. Mercedes-Benz is already implementing teal-colored lighting elements on its Drive Pilot vehicles to indicate autonomous mode. In the future, vehicles may feature windows that display graphics or live image feeds to enhance communication with the surrounding environment.
To prepare for an autonomous future, the Mercedes-Benz ESF 2019 concept incorporated various safety features. These features included different seating positions for autonomous driving, with seatbelts integrated into the seats themselves, instead of being pillar-mounted as in traditional vehicles.
Currently, Mercedes-Benz employs a four-phase approach to handling crash situations, regardless of powertrain. Phase 1 focuses on assistance, utilizing technologies such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, automatic emergency braking, and the hands-free autonomous Drive Pilot system. Phase 2 is the preparation phase, which activates when the vehicle’s sensors anticipate a crash. During this phase, the vehicle takes pre-emptive measures, such as rolling up windows, tightening seatbelt tensioners, pre-charging airbags, and, in vehicles equipped with air or hydraulic suspension, lifting the side about to experience impact to protect occupants. Phase 3 is the protect phase, involving the deployment of all airbags inside the vehicle. Mercedes-Benz introduced a rear airbag mounted on the front seat backs for rear-seat passengers in the recent S-Class. Phase 4 is the help phase, where the system alerts nearby individuals and authorities about the accident, activates hazard lights, puts electric vehicles into emergency shutdown mode, and initiates a call to the Mercedes-Benz emergency call center for assistance.
All Mercedes-Benz vehicles are equipped with a black box, which acts as the brain for all safety systems. Crash data can be retrieved from this black box post-accident if necessary.
As Mercedes-Benz continues to produce both gas-powered and electric vehicles, the recent crash test highlights the automaker’s commitment to safety testing as it expands its electric vehicle lineup and looks towards a future with zero car crashes.
