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Deadly dangers of a G-Wiz 'green' car in a 40mph crash
Last updated at 00:37am on 10.05.07This is what happened when the eco-friendly G-Wiz electric car was put through a crash test that it - unlike most other vehicles - never had to pass to be deemed roadworthy.
Experts at the Transport Research Laboratory who carried out the 40mph test said in real life such a crash would leave occupants with "life-threatening injuries".
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The impact replicates a 40mph crash with an oncoming car
The front pillar is pushed into the cabin at waist level
Following the test, the crash dummy's torso had to be removed separately from the legs
It comes just 24 hours after the Daily Mail revealed how ministers were alarmed at the safety risk posed by this type of mini-car - exempt from standard safety test regulations as it is classed as a "quadricycle" - and were considering proposing a ban.
So concerned were the TRL about the Indian-made G-Wiz that they refused to risk their more sophisticated £130,000 crash test dummies - full of electronic instruments - in the test for fear of them being wrecked.
Instead, they used a cheaper, more basic variety.
Their report into the crash noted: "The lower legs of the driver dummy were trapped within the vehicle and to remove the dummy from the vehicle the thorax of the dummy was removed separately to the legs.
"It is probable lower leg fractures could have been sustained."
These pictures of the test appear in the latest edition of Top Gear magazine which is published on Friday.
A spokesman for the magazine said: "The car's protection cell failed miserably.
"The driver's legs have been pushed a long way backward. A human leg would have been shattered, causing massive bleeding, potentially fatal in itself.
"The steering wheel has been pushed into the dummy's soft abdomen. A human is very vulnerable here - liver injuries, for example, can mean massive internal bleeding."
The car's UK importer GoinGreen said: "The G-Wiz has an exemplary safety record, with over 20million miles driven in London and Bangalore and over 4,000 years of ownership with no reported serious injury."
Reader views (17)
at least you have a choice ,we do not .Safty?? well a motor cycle ,bicycle G-wiz were all to replace walking, or save gas .Zero to sixty in 4.5 seconds we don't need it ,just a good car at price we can afford. I want to ride not walk to work.
- Dan Rosa, Tn. USA
Simple physics, if two G-Wiz vehicles collide head-on at 25mph, the force of the impact is equivalent to 50mph into a solid object. Realistically they are more likely to experience a side or corner collision and the impact would be less however the results would be quite devastating. I somewhat agree with the comment by -R, London, UK that people who make these choices understand the risks. Here in the States we call this "natural selection", to be rather blunt.
- Brian H. In Colorado, Colorado, , USA
So, there you go, you've heard the lefties opinions. Climb in to a tiny dangerous electric car (possibly with your family) and take your chances amongst the trucks and buses....
- Peter, London.
It's impossible to get a GWiz to go faster than 25mph, so the test is hardly characteristic (the test centre had to fire the vehicle into the target using a hydraulic ram).
Also, how many GWiz owners believe that they are actually driving a car and so expecting the same level of crash protection? Surely people make these choices with their eyes open and understanding that the risks are different?
What next, 40mph impact test for cyclists?
- R, London, UK
The point about motorbikes and bikes is that you are external to the vehicle and in the event of an accident, you are likely to be bounced off the other vehicle and away from the accident. Although this can obviously cause serious injury and death, the point is that these drivers don't find themselves trapped inside a vehicle which had collapsed around them.
- Rob, London
"The G-Wiz has an exemplary safety record, with over 20million miles driven in London and Bangalore and over 4,000 years of ownership with no reported serious injury."
Just goes to show that if you make drivers vulnerable, they drive more safely!
- Tim, Mold, Wales
Perhaps we should now add 40 mph crash testing for motorcycles and bicycles, as well as quadricycles? They after all presumably just as likely to be hit by other vehicles if not more so.
- Tim, Basildon, Essex
Hopefully this will see the end to these ridiculous vehicles and the other so-called green vehicles like the Prius, who's ecologically-friendly marketing does a good job of masking the true cost of running these shopping trolleys.
- Nobby Clark, London, UK
Claims that the 'car' is only driven about 10mph are meaningless as most impacts are a result of 2 vehicles colliding. You have to add your 10mph to the speed of the oncoming vehicle which is likely to be at least the speed limit (outside of rush hour).
As to where that leaves currrent owners... You've spent your money on something that cannot pass standard road safety tests for a car and which you are unlikely to be able to now sell.
- Stew, London
Surely it's not just a case of the g-wiz crashing? What happens if a car travelling at 40 mph crashes into it? Presumably anyone inside stands a much lower chance of survival than they would in a car?
- Trevor Roll, London
I agree with Steve: You do not have to be particularly clever to see that this "vehicle" is a death trap.
It is not a "quadracylce" (whatever that euphemism means), but a mini car, which is allowed on public roads and can go beyond 40 mph. Its entire body is made from plastic and has no crumple zones.
Its driver and passengers have about as much protection and chance of survival in a crash -even at low speeds- as a cyclist.
These riduculous things should be banned.
- Weddigten, London
Aren't most G-Wiz cars used in the centre of London? I doubt if they'd ever be travelling at more than 20 mph given the traffic and their slow acceleration...
- Janice, Yorkshire
As a reasonably proud (until this article) G Wiz owner I think it's a real shame that my car has completely failed a saftey test at 40mph - I've never been able to get mine over 35!
Also where would a ban leave people like me who have invested in the car for green motivations and easy of city use (where I rarely get over 30)?
- Raj Tulsiani, London
It has passed the tests applicable to this type of vehicle, it has not passed any tests applicable to other types of vehicle (such as a conventional car or for that matter a jumbo jet!) - as long as that is made clear, we are surely grown-up enough to make an informed decision of risk vs. benefit. To load it up with heavy safety cells etc would ultimately make it self defeating. What next - compulsory crumple zone suits for pedestrians?
- Richard Trimmer., Uxbridge, England
It may well be that the G-Wiz is designed as a low speed urban commuter vehicle, but unfortunately you cannot control its usage once it has left the showroom. If it is capable of 42mph then it must be able to pass the same tests as other road vehicles at 42mph.
Currently the G-Wiz is exploiting a loophole in the system and it is potentially putting owners, passengers and pedstrians at risk.
Whilst some may feel such a vehicle satisfies their "green" credentials the reality is that if it were made to meet normal safety vehicle safety standards then it would have to be substantially heavier. The extra weight would make such a vehicle unviable.
You don't get something for nothing and the G-Wiz is exploiting a loophole in safety and in energy efficiency.
If petrol engine cars only weighed 400kg then they too would have an energy efficiency far outweighing an electric car storing fossil fuel derived electricity in lead acid batteries under the seat.
- Ps, London
Forgive me for being a cynical about this - but you don't need a safety test to tell this contraption isn't safe - all you have to do is look at it!
- Steve, Yorkshire UK
The G-Wiz is designed and used as a low-speed urban commuter vehicle. It meets all regulatory requirements and has received Full EU Type Approval. Data downloaded from the 750 G-Wiz already on London’s roads show that the average speed driven is 10mph.
The G-Wiz has an exemplary safety record with over 20 million miles driven in London and Bangalore and over 4,000 years of ownership, with no reported serious injuries.
As the health and safety of our customers is paramount we welcome any informed debate or Government initiatives to make quadricycles an even safer means of urban transport.
- Keith Johnston, London, UK
