Understanding vehicle safety is crucial, especially when considering electric cars. Just like traditional vehicles, electric cars undergo rigorous testing to determine their safety performance. One key metric is the Overall Vehicle Score, often represented as a star rating. This score provides a comprehensive assessment of a vehicle’s safety in various crash scenarios.
The Overall Vehicle Score is calculated based on probabilities of injury in frontal and side crashes, along with rollover resistance. These probabilities are weighted to reflect real-world crash injury proportions, providing a holistic safety evaluation. The resulting score is then compared to the average injury risk across all vehicles, indicating whether a specific vehicle poses a higher or lower than average risk.
Here’s how the star ratings for Electric Car Rankings are typically assigned:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐= Overall injury risk for this electric car is much less than average
⭐⭐⭐⭐= Overall injury risk for this electric car is less than average to average
⭐⭐⭐= Overall injury risk for this electric car is average to greater than average
⭐⭐= Overall injury risk for this electric car is greater than average
⭐= Overall injury risk for this electric car is much greater than average
When looking at electric car rankings and their Overall Vehicle Scores, it’s important to consider comparable vehicles. Because the Overall Vehicle Score is partly based on frontal crash test ratings, comparisons are most meaningful within the same vehicle class and when weights are within 250 pounds of each other.
For example, comparing the safety scores of a 4,500-pound electric SUV to a 3,000-pound electric sedan would not be appropriate due to different vehicle classes and exceeding the weight difference threshold. Similarly, comparing a 3,600-pound electric pickup truck to a 3,400-pound electric minivan is also unsuitable due to different vehicle classes, even if the weight difference is acceptable.
However, it is valid to compare the frontal and Overall Vehicle Scores of a 3,400-pound electric car with a 3,650-pound electric car, as they belong to the same passenger car class and meet the weight requirement. Therefore, when evaluating electric car rankings based on safety, always ensure you are comparing vehicles within a similar class and weight range for the most accurate and relevant insights. This ensures a fair and meaningful understanding of electric car safety performance relative to comparable vehicles on the market.
