Nissan Leaf Becomes First EV To Score Euro NCAP 5 Star Rating

Banish any thoughts that the G-Whizz may have left you with that electric cars are just battery powered coffins — Nissan’s Leaf EV has scored the maximum 5 Star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests.

The Leaf, which was voted 2011 World Car of the Year, scored 89% for adult protection, 83% for child protection and 65% for pedestrian safety.  It’s currently the only EV to be awarded 5 Stars; the other electric passenger cars on sale today, the Mitsubishi iMiEv, Citroen C Zero and sister model Puegeot ion, ranked only 4 Stars.

The tests were carried out with a live battery and NCAP reports that no electrical hazards were presented as a result of the crash.  That’s reassuring to know, because the last thing you need if you’ve just survived a car smash is to be electrocuted as you get dragged out.

Leaf sales have already started, with the model priced from £29,990.

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