FROM THE
INDUSTRY
How safe are your electric utility vehicles?
Most micro electric utility vehicles compromise driver safety and are not crash tested, warns Anders Lynge, Director of Brand and Design Strategy at Club Car.
The problem is the design. To maximise space at the rear, most cars in this sector place the driver in front of the axle, with their knees and feet very close to the front of the vehicle.
It offers very little protection in the event of a head-on collision.
When we designed the Club Car Urban, the innovative new electric utility task vehicle (UTV), we wanted to ensure it stood apart from all other competitors for safety.
The Urban is the only car in its sector to be put through stringent crash testing, and it is the option I would choose if I or a member of my family had to drive a vehicle like this for eight hours a day.
Club Car Urban: the safest in its sector
All micro electric utility vehicles need certain fundamentals – power, ability to tow a certain amount of load and battery range. Once you have confidently ticked those boxes, you can look at elements that set your car apart from the rest.
Driver safety is the differentiator for the Club Car Urban.
Adding extra space in the nose allowed us to engineer the car so that in the event of an accident, the driver and passenger are in a much better position to avoid serious injury.
A lot of work also went into controlling the steering column so the operator is not crushed by it, and into securely fitting the battery, so it would not come flying out.
“Club Car Urban is subjected to the same testing process as standard cars and full-size trucks.”
Automotive-level testing
Once we were happy with the Urban’s design, we put it to the test at the state-of-the-art crash testing facility at Tass International in the Netherlands, driving it into a wall at 50kmph with six ultra-slow-motion cameras analysing it from various angles.
It is the same testing process as standard cars and full-size trucks.
The Urban passed with flying colours. The passenger cabin stays completely intact, and the steering column moves up and away from the driver.
I do not think it would be a pleasant experience, but I guarantee you it is the safest option in this segment. There is a reason other UTVs are not tested in this way.
Ready to see what sets the Urban apart from the rest?
Contact your Club Car dealer or visit clubcarurban.com to learn more about our premium utility vehicles.
