LINCOLN, NE—Engineers at the University of Nebraska recently conducted research to determine if currently used guardrails are prepared to handle the growing number of electric vehicles on America’s roads and highways. Unfortunately, the results are quite sobering.
The first-of-its-kind testing was conducted at Nebraska’s Midwest Roadside Safety Facility. At 60 mph, the 7,000-plus-pound, 2022 Rivian R1T pickup truck tore through a barrier with little reduction in speed. In a separate test, a 2018 Tesla Model 3 sedan lifted the guardrail and passed below it, coming to rest behind the barrier.
“There is some urgency to address this issue,” said Cody Stolle, assistant director of the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility. “As the percentage of EVs on the road increases, the proportion of run-off-road crashes involving EVs will increase, as well.”
According to Stolle, little has been known about how guardrail system will perform in crashes involving EVs, which typically weigh 20 percent to 50 percent more than traditional gas-powered vehicles, with lower centers of gravity.
The guardrail system that was tested features a 12-gauge corrugated steel guardrail attached to 6-inch deep steel posts, anchored to the rail with block outs that are 8- to 12-inches thick. The top of the rail is 31 inches above the road.
Designed as an inexpensive, high-performing barrier, the tested guardrail system, the Midwest Guardrail System (MGS), was developed at the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility in response to barrier ruptures and rollovers with older systems. The MGS has been tested with small cars that weigh up to 2,400 pounds and pickups that weigh 5,000 pounds.
Additional crash tests are planned. Afterward, the Nebraska engineers will collaborate with transportation officials to determine next steps to accommodate the anticipated changes in America’s vehicle fleet.
