At the Sydney International EV Auto Show, Carla Hoorweg, CEO of ANCAP, spoke with Fleet EV News about the importance of testing electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids like the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV ute to help answer safety questions that fleet managers and new EV buyers frequently raise. According to Hoorweg, ANCAP’s role is not only to assess and promote safety in vehicles but also to address the public’s concerns, particularly as EV adoption increases.
“For us, we get a lot of questions from people about EVs and how safe they are,” Hoorweg said. To address this, ANCAP brought a crash-tested hybrid vehicle, the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, to the show to offer an up-close look at its assessment processes and safety insights. This specific ute is significant as “it’s the first hybrid ute that ANCAP has tested,” she explained, demonstrating the rigorous process and protocols that apply equally to EVs, hybrids, and traditional vehicles.
One key concern many new EV buyers and fleet managers have is whether these vehicles pose a higher fire risk in a crash than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The notion of EVs catching fire due to their battery systems has sparked numerous discussions, but Hoorweg clarified that ANCAP’s crash tests have not indicated any heightened risk of fire.
“We have not experienced any issues with EVs bursting into flames in any of our crash testing,” she said, a reassurance that reflects positively on current EV safety standards. Manufacturers, according to Hoorweg, have taken battery safety seriously, ensuring the battery is housed securely and isn’t compromised even in significant crashes. “Manufacturers have been designing vehicles well from our perspective in terms of where the battery is placed,” she added, noting that these designs help avoid the risk of battery intrusion during a crash.
Testing EVs like the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV also involves unique precautions that differ from ICE vehicles. “There are additional precautions we need to take for any vehicle with a battery,” Hoorweg explained. ANCAP ensures the vehicle is not “alive” after a crash, disconnecting high-voltage lines to prevent any electrical hazards post-impact. The testing process further checks for any intrusion into the battery area, a step that reflects the specific needs of EV and hybrid safety evaluations. These additional measures aim to protect occupants and first responders from electric shock or fire in the unlikely event of a battery compromise.
Fleet managers, who often make decisions for a wide range of drivers and vehicle types, have expressed interest in understanding the safety implications of these new powertrains. Hoorweg believes that by rigorously testing hybrid and electric utes and displaying them at events like the auto show, ANCAP can provide the transparency and information that fleet buyers need. “It’s important for people to check if they’re purchasing a new vehicle and understand what the safety performance of that vehicle has been in our crash program,” she said. The GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV’s presence at the ANCAP booth serves to illustrate the testing protocols and provides real-world insights into how these advanced vehicles perform in crashes.
Public interest in EV safety is driven not only by curiosity but by a real need to understand how these vehicles operate differently in emergencies. For fleet managers, in particular, who consider factors like vehicle durability and occupant safety, knowing that a hybrid ute like the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV meets ANCAP’s rigorous safety standards is a strong indicator of its reliability. As Hoorweg noted, “People should be thinking about those things.” Through extensive testing and public displays, ANCAP is working to address these concerns and build confidence in the growing electric vehicle market.
