Electric safety on agenda

As electric and hybrid vehicles gain in popularity, questions about their safety have come to the forefront. 

To address consumer concerns and debunk myths, ANCAP put a crash-tested, hybrid model on display at the Sydney International EV AutoShow.

The highlight of its presence at the event, which closed on November 10, was a sit-in display of one of a GWM Cannon Alpha to give people a close-up view of how alternative-powered vehicles perform in tests.

The display demonstrated the real-world standards that ANCAP encourages across all new vehicles sold on both sides of the Tasman, including the integrity of high-voltage battery systems and passenger protection in the event of a collision in or with an EV.

Carla Hoorweg, chief executive officer, says: “This event was a great way for consumers to engage with our team of experts to learn about the rigorous testing and evaluation that electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles [PHEVs] undergo to ensure they meet the same protection and crash-avoidance standards as petrol and diesel vehicles. 

“Our presence at the show provided consumers with the opportunity to learn more about key safety aspects to look for when researching their next purchase, and some of the precautions our test-laboratory staff take when preparing and testing EVs.”

ANCAP ratings are available for more than 150 electric, hybrid, hydrogen and PHEV models currently on the market.