ANCAP van assessment brings positive results

ELECTRIC powered commercial vans have been put under the active safety performance microscope at ANCAP for the first time following two previous programs that were focused on ICE powered models.

The electric van segment has started to grow with entrants from LDV, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Renault and Peugeot the advance guard of an expected influx over coming months and years.

The ANCAP test went further than merely assessing each contender by implementing its latest round of Commercial Van Safety Comparison testing.

In a mixed field, Chinese manufacturer’s LDV eDeliver 7 and Mercedes-Benz eSprinter and eVito performed well, as did diesel-powered models from LDV, Mercedes-Benz and Ford.

“The five vans have been assessed based on the fitment and performance of their active (collision avoidance) safety systems which include low and high-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane support systems (LSS), speed assistance systems (SAS) and occupant detection systems,” said ANCAP in a statement.

“Destructive crash testing does not currently form part of these Commercial Van Safety Comparison assessments.”

The safety body started its Commercial Van Safety Comparison testing back in December 2020 in light of the increasing number of deliveries and last-mile freight movements seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A second round of van results were released in December 2022.

The latest round of testing using updated criteria rates the fully electric LDV eDeliver 7 medium van as a strong performer with score of 77 per cent.

ANCAP says the eDeliver 7 is well-equipped with the range of active collision avoidance technologies fitted as standard.

Testing of the eDeliver 7 showed Good performance in autonomous emergency braking (AEB) car-to-car, AEB car-to-cyclist and lane support test scenarios.

Adequate performance was recorded for its ability to detect and respond to pedestrians through its emergency braking system.

Diesel-powered LDV Deliver 9 models built from January 2024 are also equipped with the full suite of active safety features as standard. This updated model elevates the Deliver 9 to a new result of 74 per cent.

Besting the LDVs, the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter and its diesel equivalent, Sprinter, both achieved scores of 89 per cent. Active safety equipment is fitted to these models as standard and high scores were awarded for Good performance in all assessment areas.

ANCAP says this performance elevates MY24 models well above their previous grading and positions them at the top of the large van segment.

The electric Mercedes-Benz eVito and diesel Vito also achieved high gradings with scores of 90 per cent. AEB performance was Good in all assessment areas with the exception of AEB car-to-cyclist which was assessed as Adequate.

But the safety chocolates went to the new generation Ford Transit Custom with an all-time record high score of 96 per cent.

“The Transit Custom is sold with a comprehensive suite of active safety features as standard and is able to detect and respond to other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists in forwards and turning scenarios,” said ANCAP.

“High levels of performance were recorded in each of these areas. Full points were awarded for lane support, speed assistance and occupant status monitoring.”

Speaking on the results, ANCAP chief executive officer Carla Hoorweg said, “Mercedes-Benz and Ford have elevated the benchmark for active safety across the van segment”.

“Vehicles are a workplace for many. With thousands of commercial vans sold in Australia and New Zealand each year, our Commercial Van Safety Comparison assists fleet buyers and business customers to make informed purchasing decisions,” she added.

Further positive safety specification adjustments across commercial vans models sold in Australia and New Zealand are anticipated in the coming year as a result of regulatory safety changes introduced into the European market last month (EU GSR2).

“The safety fitment and performance of all vehicles should not be market dependant, and 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 coming months,” concluded Ms Hoorweg.

ANCAP safety gradings are available for 18 commercial van models currently sold as new in Australia and New Zealand.

The LDV G10/G10+ remains as the sole van with a grading status of Not Recommended.

Since ANCAP’s earlier publication of vans results, other van models that were previously Not Recommended have either been upgraded or withdrawn from the market.

ANCAP’s latest Commercial Van Safety Comparison is available on their website and in coming months consumers and fleets will be able to dynamically search, filter and sort commercial van gradings via a new enhanced search tool following website upgrades.