G-Wiz safety

[MB]

As a pedestrian, would you walk away from any impact at 10mph?

It is good to see that recent car safety legislation takes pedestrians into account, and EuroNCAP are doing their bit by providing a star rating for pedestrian protection.

I think what is required is a revamp for the legislation for quadricycles to bring them up to date. And if that includes a pedestrian safety rating, all to the better.

After all, manufacturers only ever build the car to the standards demanded of them by customers and Government legislation.

[Phil]

Sorry, electricvehicles, but I beg to differ. As a pedestrian, which you rather be hit by (even at 10mph): a Range Rover, or a G-Wiz (which because it's made of plastic is intrinsically more flexible)? It has less mass too, which I think means a gentler impact? I'm sure the "techies" will correct me if I'm wrong, but personally I believe the G-Wiz is more people friendly in this respect. Even if this is not the case, since on average a G-Wiz is likely to be going slower than a conventional car, plain common sense suggests it's likely to do less harm?

[Tim]

I'd certainly expect that a pedestrian hit by a soft vehicle and one with a gently sloping front like the G-Wiz would be better off than a pedestrian hit by by a big solid square box. A pedestrian hit by a G-Wiz will be cushioned by the defrorming plastic and probably slide up the gently sloping front. A pedestrian hit by a Range Rover will be hit by a relatively big solid square block.

I rather be hit by a balloon then a mallet any day of the week.

[ImprezaBoy]

Has anyone had a G-wiz on order at the time this safety scare came up and tried to cancel their order?

If so, what was Goingreen's response?

NB: I realise there are differing and firmly-held views expressed on this forum about the rights and wrongs of this recent scare and about whether one should stick with the G-wiz or bail out. I think there's right on both sides and I'm not trying to take sides on it. I'd appreciate it if responses could focus on the specific question rather than on whether one would be right or wrong to try to cancel in the current climate.

Cheers.

[electricvehicles]

I seem to be the carrier of bad news on this site -- Dont know why - afterall I have been building and maintaining Electric vehicles for over 22 years !!
As we all know sulfuric acid is present in all Lead acid batteries in the form of Electrolyte. To be exact 35% is pure Sulfuric Acid. Perhaps the recent crash tests are not just a pop at users of G-Wiz's but are actually trying to make motoring safer. I dread to think of the injuries to a driver of a G-Wiz should a set of batteries become crushed and burst. 22 plus lts of 1250sg electrolyte is going to make one hell mess. I have had 1st hand experience of a vehicle tipping over that was fitted with full traction chloride batteries. Sadly the driver ended up losing his arm from the elbow down due to acid burns.
Safety really is a big issue when dealing with Lead Acid Batteries.

[Phil]

Thanks so much for that cheery information, electricvehicles. I trust you are aware of the published information that to date there has been NOT ONE SINGLE SERIOUS INJURY reported in I forget how many millions of miles driven in G-Wiz/Reva cars?
Do you post similar dire warnings about other types of vehicles and all the hideous injuries which can be and are sustained by the drivers and passengers on other relevant fora? Or are you determined only to try and scare the sh*t out of us G-Wiz drivers (and if so, I wonder why?)

[electricvehicles]

Hi Phil,
Please dont think I am having a pop at Electric Vehicle users. I can assure you that I am a great fan of these. After all Electric Vehilces - Thats Industrial Vehicles 20 ton Tow Tractors, People Carriers Pedestrian operated refuse trucks ( you might have seen them if travelling through Chelsea, big white ones with SITA on the sides ), Batteries and Battery Chargers are my Bread and Butter.
Its just over the years I have seen some terrible accidents caused through missuse of PB batteries. And unless they are given the respect they deserve they can potentially be very lethal.
For instance when we dispose of old batteries, which on average is approx half a ton a week. They have to be transported in specially constructed stillage bins, so in the unlikely event of the vehicle having an accident the chances of a spill of acid is greatly reduced. This is a DOE requirement.
So please dont take my comments the wrong way. I am only pointing out safety issues which I hope will not only prevent injury to users of Electric Vehilces but the general public as well.
Regards
Dave

[Mark time]

I have just come across this on e-bay. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2001-MICROCAR-VIR ... dZViewItem

I don't know anything about it but from the pictures and the description it would pass for a 'car' It looks like it might be an inch or two bigger than a G-Wiz. From the listing the only saftey kit it has is an imobiliser! So I guess no air bags or crumple zones or NCAP rating.

Would you be safer in this?
Would you 'feel' safer in this?

Does it add to the debate or just cause confusion?

Mark

[Tim]

The Microcar Virgo is also a quadricycle like the G-Wiz, Aixams, Ligier and others.

Some of these French quadricycles are voluntarily subjected to the 35 mpg crash test required of cars and pass. I'm not sure if that applies to Microcar.

[Mark time]

Thank you Tim, I stand corrected and as the saying goes, 'learn something new everyday'

Cheers Mark