The T.27 Electric City Car has recently undergone its first crash test at the MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) and the results were almost identical to what the computer simulation has previously predicted: a zero cabin intrusion.
This means that the mandatory EEC 40% offset deformable barrier front high speed impact was passed and that the T.27 Electric City Car is perfectly safe.
The results are further endorsing Gordon Murray’s iStream design and the composite monocoque technology brought from Formula 1, which concentrates on reduced weight, low cost and increased levels of safety.
Frank Coppuck, Design Engineering Director at Gordon Murray said "This crash test represents a major milestone in vehicle safety and in the history of Gordon Murray Design."
Gordon Murray Design press release :
Gordon Murray Design have conducted the first crash test of a vehicle built with their ground breaking iStream® manufacturing technology. The test was carried out at MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) on a Gordon Murray Design T.27 Electric City Car.
The crash test was the mandatory EEC 40% offset deformable barrier front high speed impact and the T.27 came through with flying colours with zero cabin intrusion and the measured results being extremely close to those predicted by computer simulation.
This outstanding result is a great endorsement for Gordon Murray Design’s iStream® manufacturing system which delivers reduced weight and cost with increased levels of safety. The iStream® composite monocoque brings Formula One technology to mass production vehicles with significantly higher specific energy absorption rates compared with conventional bodied cars.
Frank Coppuck, Gordon Murray Design’s Engineering Director said:
“This crash test represents a major milestone in vehicle safety and in the history of Gordon Murray Design. It clearly demonstrates that cars built using iStream technology can achieve low weight, cost and significant reductions in energy usage during manufacturing without compromising safety.”
The development of the T.27, by Gordon Murray Design and Zytek Automotive Ltd, has been made possible through a £4.5m investment from the government-backed Technology Strategy Board. With a total cost of £9m, the consortium will develop running prototypes of the vehicle by Spring 2011.
