Vehicle safety authority ANCAP has recently released its latest Commercial Van Safety Report, marking the first time electric commercial vans have been tested alongside their diesel-powered counterparts.
This round of testing evaluated 18 vans on their active safety systems, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane support systems (LSS), speed assistance systems (SAS), and occupant detection systems. The assessments do not include destructive crash testing.
Instead of the usual star-rating system, ANCAP employed a medal system with bronze, silver, gold, and platinum ratings applied to the vans assessed and currently available in Australia and New Zealand.
Of the assessed vehicles, five received PLATINUM ratings, five GOLD, five SILVER, and two BRONZE.
Electric Vans Lead the Charge
Topping the list is the electric LDV eDeliver 7, which earned a GOLD medal with a strong safety performance score of 77 per cent. The eDeliver 7 comes equipped with advanced safety technologies, including autonomous emergency braking and lane support systems. It performed well in tests for car-to-car and car-to-cyclist scenarios, though its ability to detect pedestrians was rated as adequate.
The electric Mercedes-Benz eSprinter and eVito also excelled, each achieving a PLATINUM rating. The eSprinter scored 89 per cent, while the eVito reached 90 per cent. Both models, along with their diesel counterparts, the Sprinter and Vito, have set a high bar for active safety. The rating for the eVito’s AEB Car-to-Cyclist performance was adequate, but these vans performed exceptionally well overall.
The LDV G10/G10+ remains the only van with a “Not Recommended” status.
Diesel Vans Perform Strongly
The diesel LDV Deliver 9, now equipped with a full suite of safety features, has earned a GOLD rating with a score of 74 per cent. This represents a significant improvement from its previous BRONZE rating, highlighting the impact of recent safety upgrades.
The new Ford Transit Custom has set a record with an outstanding PLATINUM rating and a score of 96 per cent. The Transit Custom comes packed with a comprehensive range of safety features. It excels in detecting and responding to other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. It received top marks for lane support, speed assistance, and occupant monitoring.
Setting the Standard for Active Safety
ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg emphasised the importance of these results. She also noted that upcoming regulatory changes in Europe are likely to drive further improvements in safety features for vans sold in Australia and New Zealand.
“Mercedes-Benz and Ford have set a new standard for active safety in the van segment,” she said.
“Vehicles are workplaces for many. With thousands of commercial vans sold in Australia and New Zealand each year, our Commercial Van Safety Comparison helps fleet buyers and business customers make informed purchasing decisions,” she added.
“The safety fitment and performance of all vehicles should not be market-dependent. With the regulatory updates recently introduced in Europe through GSR2, we’re looking forward to the flow-through of safety-enhanced models to the Australian and New Zealand markets in the coming months,” Ms Hoorweg said.
Detailed results of the Commercial Van Safety Comparison report can be found here.
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