Tests Confirm Endura Technology Would Improve Euro NCAP Ratings of Vehicles
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WOLVERHAMPTON, England, January 25 -- Testing to new EU standards for Frontal Protection Systems (FPS) has shown that the aftermarket fitting of an Endura FPS on 4x4s, LCV's and pick up trucks would enhance their ratings in Euro NCAP tests.
Frontal Protection Systems are the natural successor to the notorious "bull bars" but instead of making vehicles more dangerous, they make them safer. The composite materials used absorb energy and protect pedestrians from hard parts at the front of vehicles, such as the bonnet leading edge, radiator and engine, whilst still offering protection to the vehicle in an impact situation.
Figure 1 illustrates the improvements an Endura FPS has made upon a large 4x4.The results highlight considerable improvements to the protection of the head, abdomen and legs.
Many lives could be saved and serious injuries reduced as almost 20 per cent of 12,000 fatal and 290,000 serious injuries across Europe result from these types of impacts on vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.
To comply with Euro NCAP, a series of tests are carried out to replicate accidents involving child and adult pedestrians where impacts occur at 25mph (40kph). Impact sites are then assessed and rated fair, weak or poor (in terms of vehicle protection offered to the pedestrian).
"If an Endura's energy absorbing technology was widely adopted and integrated into vehicle design across Europe, vehicles would improve their Euro NCAP scores", claims Ian Finney, Managing Director of Concept Mouldings.
Concept Mouldings has demonstrated, in recent tests, on a range of vehicles with the FPS fitted, that the likelihood of head injury was reduced to less than the prescribed 18 per cent risk of injury, which is equal to 2 points within Euro NCAP.
Upper or lower leg testing has also shown significant improvements, regardless of the vehicle to which Endura technology is fitted, and in some cases would achieve 2 points for each discipline under Euro NCAP.
Focus on the latest designs of vehicles, Endura continues to improve the major disciplines required for pedestrian protection. Applying today's technology to old and new vehicles would make them much safer for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. Countless lives and serious injuries could be saved by the wider adoption of this technology on vehicles within Europe.
Figure 1
Comparison of Risk of Pedestrian Injury
Pedestrian Injury
Risk with and
without Endura FPS
Fitted
Vehicle Benchmark Benchmark Endura FPS Improvement
FPS FPS maximum upon
improvement Risk over vehicle
complete with
product developed
Endura FPS
Fitted
Typical Head 70% 5% 93% <2% 97%
1993 Large impact
4X4 centre
Typical Head 55% 5% 90% <2% 96%
1993 Large impact
4X4 mount
Typical Pelvic 80% 75% 6% <35% 56%
1993 Large and
4X4 Abdominal
(Load)
Typical Pelvic 90% 95% -5% <50% 44%
1993 Large and
4X4 Abdominal
(BM)
Typical Upper Leg >99% 76% 23% <70% 29%
1993 Large to Bumper
4X4 (Load)
Typical Upper Leg >99% 64% 35% <68% 31%
1993 Large to Bumper
4X4 (BM)
1) Endura technology has currently been applied to aftermarket products which meet European legislative regulations, but in the future it will be possible to integrate this technology into vehicle designs to further increase pedestrian safety.
2) In May 2007, new EU legislation will effectively ban old style metal bull bars while endorsing these safer Frontal Protection Systems, which have been produced to meet the new EU standards.
3) Details of the test results and information on this development in pedestrian safety are available at www.conceptmouldings.co.uk , www.frontalprotectionsystems.eu.
4) An Endura FPS can now be purchased online at the Endura Webstore www.endura-fps.com.