Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt: Good for the Environment, Good for Your Health (GM)

As electric and hybrid vehicles begin to take hold in the United States, car manufacturers General Motors

and Nissan Motor Company want consumers to know that not only are their eco-friendly vehicles good for the environment, but they are good for your personal safety as well. GM's Volt and Nissan's Leaf both earned top scores in crash tests administered by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The vehicles were both granted the Institute's

award. The label is bestowed upon cars that receive the best possible ratings for front and side crashes, as well as the best scores for rear impact whiplash protection. Joe Nolan, the Insurance Institute's chief administrative officer weighed in saying, “What powers the wheels is different, but the level of safety for the Volt and the Leaf is as high as any of our other top crash test performances.” The reason for the high safety scores may be attributed to the fact that both vehicles are nearly 700 pounds heavier than their comparable gasoline-powered counterparts. The extra weight is mostly due to the hefty battery packs that power the vehicles. Nolan added, “The Leaf and the Volt's extra mass give them a safety advantage over other small cars. These electric models are a win-win for fuel economy and safety.” Another concern emanated from the battery packs themselves. There was some worry that victims of a crash could be subject to electrocution due to the vehicles' high voltage electrical systems. Russ Rader, a spokesman for the Institute quelled those fears saying, “Both vehicles' batteries are well shielded in the middle of the vehicle and away from any crash damage, and they have systems that shut off the high voltage electricity in the event of a crash.” The Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt have enjoyed recent acclaim from the industry. The Volt has won the

and

while the Leaf has won the

award. The high safety ratings are sure to bolster these positive sentiments.