Budget Cars Under Scrutiny: Are Micro-Cars Dangerous?
- by Christian Hensen
- 2 Min
Fatal Incident Reported: Tragic Event Results in Loss of Life - "Dangerous Warnings": Specialists Issue Caution Regarding Mopeds
Affordable,tiny cars like the Opel Rocks-e, the Citroën Ami, or the Aixam Access, priced under 10,000 euros, are a hit among young drivers who can drive them with a class AM license at just 15 years old. But these micro-cars, despite their appeal, have sparked controversy.
The Alarming Findings of DEKRA's Investigation
A recent investigation by DEKRA, as reported by "Auto Motor Sport", found these micro-cars to be potentially deadly. In a simulated city crash, two micro-cars were crashed into a barrier at 45 km/h. The results were startling.
"Auto Motor Sport" states, "The loads on the dummies would have likely resulted in the death of human passengers." The impact was particularly severe on the driver's steering wheel, causing a force of 720 kilograms during the collision, which surpasses the legal limit of 80 g and is life-threatening.
Safety Concerns for Micro-Car Passengers
The Aixam Access, the most frequently sold vehicle in its class, fared poorly. Despite the passenger compartment not showing significant deformation, the forces inside were substantial. The steering wheel, lacking an airbag, struck the dummy's head with full force.
Similarly, the rigid frame of the Citroën Ami could not absorb kinetic energy and instead transferred the impact to the occupants. The small vehicle's safety features do not meet those of full-sized cars and could pose a fatal risk in an accident.
The Managers' Response
The issue, according to the report, lies in the relatively lenient safety requirements for light motor vehicles. Manufacturers, such as Stellantis (responsible for Opel, Citroën, and Fiat), emphasize the advantages of micro-cars despite the findings, stating they offer benefits compared to other vehicles in this class. Aixam, on the other hand, believes that due to their construction, safety features like ABS, airbags, or crash sensors cannot be feasibly implemented in these vehicles.
- Micro-Cars
- Auto Motor Sport
- DEKRA
- Euro NCAP
- The European organization Euro NCAP typically does not test micro-cars, such as the Opel Rocks-e, Citroën Ami, and Aixam Access, for their safety performance, unlike full-sized cars.
- Despite micro-cars, like the Aixam Access, failing to meet the safety features of full-sized cars and potentially posing a fatal risk in an accident, their manufacturers emphasize the employment policy benefits they offer compared to other vehicles in their class.
- The rigid frame of pedelecs (electric bikes) might not absorb kinetic energy efficiently, similar to small vehicles like the Citroën Ami, which could lead to disadvantages in terms of health-and-wellness and safety during an impact.
- In the community, there has been a debate about implementing safety features such as ABS, airbags, or crash sensors in micro-cars, even though it may seem challenging due to micro-cars' construction, according to the vehicle manufacturer Aixam.
