See It: Rivian Pickup Destroys Guardrail In Crash Test
New research is shining a light on a potential safety issue facing America’s roads and secure facilities.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln crash-tested a Rivian R1T pickup against guardrails and barriers at its Midwest Roadside Safety Facility.
The test was conducted with support from U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, which was collecting data on the threats against protective structures posed by the increasing number of heavy electric vehicles available today.
The Rivian R1T is a midsize pickup that weighs over 7,000 pounds, while some versions of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Hummer EV weigh over 8,000 pounds and 9,000 pounds.
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The vehicle was tested against the Midwest Guardrail System barrier, which is 31-inches tall and constructed from from 12-gauge corrugated steel. It is attached to 6-inch deep steel posts and anchored with 8 to 12-inch thick blockouts, according to Nebraska Today.
It was designed to handle vehicles up to 5,000 pounds and the Rivian cut right through it at an agnle, smashing its front end but staying largely intact. It then jumped over a concrete Jersey barrier on the other side.
Researcher Cody Stolle told American Cars And Racing that the facility hasn’t tested internal combustion engine vehicles of similar weight to the Rivan, like heavy duty pickups, but that “some of the concerns raised in our study regarding vehicle weight could be extended to heavy ICEVs.”
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The facility had previously tested a Tesla Model 3, which only weighs about 4,000 pounds, but was able to go under the guardrail, thanks in part to its strong structure and the low positioning of the floor-mounted battery pack.
The Rivian R1T is also robust and has received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Prior to the evaluation, the IIHS tested its own equipment to see if it could handle the weight of the Rivian, which is the heaviest vehicle it has ever rated.
