The new Mercedes-Benz EQC keeps the flag up in terms of safety, just as any other car with the three-pointed star. The electric crossover has already undergone crash tests, so the automaker makes sure that it complies with the stringent safety standards and legal requirements.
The engineers have tested the high-voltage drive systems before validating the vehicle, in the Mercedes-Benz technology center for vehicle safety (TFS), the most advanced crash test facility in the world.
In order for the vehicle to be safe, Mercedes carried out various measures. Thus, the electric car receives a robust frame around the battery, with an integral crash structure, proceeded by deformation elements, capable of absorbing the additional forces in the event of a side impact.
A battery guard has also been mounted in the front area of the battery, so that no sharp objects can pierce the energy storage unit.
Depending on the severity of an eventual crash, the high-voltage system can be automatically shut down, while the charging process is automatically curtailed if an impact is detected when the vehicle is stationary, in the vicinity of a quick-charging station. The EQC also gets shutdown points, where emergency experts can manually deactivate the high-voltage system.
The battery also underwent the tests performed by Daimler’s subsidiary Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE, verifying the battery’s behavior under impact, when pierced by foreign bodies. The laboratory also simulated overloading and overheating situations.
Mercedes-Benz also equipped the company’s first car designed as a zero-emission car with restraint systems that make it as safe as any Benz. It thus gets the three-point seat belts with pyrotechnical belt tensioners and belt force limiters for the driver, front passenger and passengers on the outer rear seats, as the center rear seats gets normal three-point seat belt.
The crossover is equipped with i-Size (Europe) and ISOFIX (other countries) child seat attachment points for securely attaching appropriate child seats on the outer rear seats.
There are window airbags in the roof area, located between the A, B and C-pillars, designed to protect the head area of the driver, front passenger and passengers on the outer rear seats. The occupants also receive combined thorax/pelvis side impact airbags for driver and front passenger. Additional optional side impact airbags for the outer rear seats, while there is also a knee airbag for the driver. A dual-stage, time-delayed deployment airbags are also fitted for the driver and for the front passenger.
In the event of an accident, as the protective system is triggered, an emergency call or a service call is made, so the following steps can be followed, depending on the type and severity of the accident:
- The Mercedes-Benz emergency call is automatically activated, so the emergency services can initiate rescue.
- The high-voltage system is shut down
- A hazard warning system informs the other road users
- Interior lighting switched on
- The front side windows will be lowered to allow ventilation if the airbag is deployed.
- The central locking system is unlocked
- The electrically adjustable steering column is lifted
The car is fitted with a rescue sticker, that offers information on the vehicle’s rescue data sheet. Rescue teams will scan the QR code with a smartphone or tablet PC to make rescue operations as fast and safe as possible.
