Heavy Cars

[Charl du Toit <charl@IHUG.CO.NZ>]

LEE A HART wrote:
>
> You make a good point on the desirability of smaller vehicles. But that
> will require a paradigm shift. If everyone drove 1000 lb cars, then 1000
lb
> cars would not be at any special risk on the highway. But in a world
filled
> with 3000 lb cars, driving lightweight vehicles is a significant risk.

Here's a new twist to the subject. First time I saw it, I thought it was a
joke, but now it's contained in a Daimler-Benz press release, and they are
serious. Seems that ever since Mercedes introduced the smaller A-class they
are (justifiably) worried about the much-touted safety of the marque. After
all, a 2 tonne 4wd thing will hardly notice it's just splatted their tiny
little commuter car. So D-B is pushing to have the European crash test
profile altered. The argument goes like this:
If you drive a 2 tonne thing, be it a Mercedes or whatever, you should be
aware that the trend is for others to have downsized their transport, and
they are therefore more susceptible to damage from your vehicle. Your
vehicle should then be designed to absorb more of the damage generated in a
2-car collision (Here's that momentum/energy thing again) and inflict less
on the smaller vehicle. D-B argues that the present crash test requirement
makes motoring more unsafe for the ever-growing small car sector because
cars are required only to survive a single-car barrier test.
So! Maybe there is hope yet for the efficient, lightweight, EV of the
not-too-distant future.
A corollary of this applies to all the Rambo's out there with huge bush
bars on the front of their big 4x4's: while you will certainly splat
anything under 1 tonne in a head-on collision, be advised that you have
thrown away your own crumple zone. If you hit something really solid like a
big tree, you don't stand a chance where others will survive. Several
countries have legislation pending to outlaw bush bars.

Regards
Charl du Toit

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Heavy Cars