When you’re looking into Electric Car Rankings, safety is often a top priority. Understanding how these vehicles are rated for safety can give you peace of mind. A key metric to consider is the Overall Vehicle Score, often represented as a star rating. This score is designed to give you a quick assessment of a vehicle’s safety performance in crash tests.
The Overall Vehicle Score is calculated using probabilities of injury from frontal and side crash tests, along with rollover resistance assessments. These probabilities are weighted to reflect how common each type of crash is in the real world. The result is then compared to the average injury risk across all vehicles. This comparison determines whether a specific vehicle poses a higher or lower risk than average. The star ratings are assigned based on this comparison, as detailed below:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = 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
It’s crucial to understand the limitations when comparing these Overall Vehicle Scores, especially when looking at electric car rankings. Because the Overall Vehicle Score relies partly on frontal crash test ratings, comparisons should be made cautiously. You can only directly compare scores between electric cars within the same vehicle class and with similar weights. Specifically, the weights should be within plus or minus 250 pounds of each other.
For example, comparing the safety scores of a heavy electric SUV to a lightweight electric sedan isn’t accurate due to the differences in vehicle class and weight. Similarly, comparing an electric pickup truck to an electric minivan wouldn’t be appropriate even if their weights are close, as they belong to different vehicle classes.
However, you can confidently compare the Overall Vehicle Scores of two electric passenger cars if they are in the same class and their weights are within 250 pounds of each other. This ensures a more relevant and meaningful safety comparison when evaluating electric car rankings. Always consider these factors to make informed decisions about electric vehicle safety.
