Electric Tesla S broke the equipment for the crash tests

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded the highest rating of 5 stars to the Model S electric vehicle made by Tesla Motors in all categories of testing. This model showed the absolute best result for all the time of such tests, although they must pass each model offered for sale in the United States.

Although the Tesla Model S comes in a sedan, its rating is higher than that of all SUVs and minibuses. In the detailed test results that are sent to manufacturers, the total result of 5.4 points is indicated.

The graph shows the statistical relative risk indicator (Relative Risk Score, RRS) for the Tesla S model compared to other vehicles according to the NHTSA 2011 standard.
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The testing process took into account the probability of the driver and passengers getting injured in a frontal and side collision, as well as a rear impact and a coup.

Tesla Motors specialists explain that such high safety is due to the natural properties of the design of an electric vehicle. It lacks a large fuel tank, so it is possible to make longer warp zones to absorb energy when struck at high speed. The motor of a car with a diameter of 30 centimeters is different from the huge engines of gasoline engines, which turn into deadly iron cores that crush people's bones in a collision and flattening of the body. Moreover, the motor is located closer to the rear axle and has little chance of getting into the cabin in any collision. The hood of the Tesla S is used as an extra trunk.


Body Model S

Model S showed a great result in one of the most difficult side impact tests. According to the results of crash tests, the sedan retained, on average, 63.5% of the amount of driver's space in the cabin. For comparison, the other “five star” and one of the safest Volvo S60 cars retains only 7.8% of the volume of space. This is because Tesla Motors has reinforced the body with numerous aluminum hoods on the side guides to absorb collision energy. By the way, the same principle was used in the Apollo lunar module of the ship, made for landing on the lunar surface.


Side Impact Test

Of particular note is the crash test on the back. The fact is that when installing the third row of seats with child seats, Tesla Motors forcibly installs an additional double bumper. Seats with child seats - this is the safest place in the car with bumps in front and side.

Model S was about 50% better than any other car in the tests for a coup. Specialists from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have experienced certain problems with this test. Due to heavy batteries installed around the bottom and a low center of gravity, the sedan refused to roll over when conventional methods were applied to it. Experts did not succeed in achieving the ignition of the Model S lithium-ion batteries under any realistic conditions.

Interestingly, during the Model S crush down test, the test press broke, reports Tesla Motors. A breakdown occurred while simulating an overload of just over 4G.