Massive Rivian R1T Pickup Truck Destroys Guardrail in Crash Test
In a shocking crash test conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Rivian R1T pickup truck, weighing a staggering 6,949 pounds (3,152 kilograms), plowed through a standard steel guardrail at 60 mph (97 kph) without even slowing down. The test, sponsored by the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), aims to highlight the need for improved road safety infrastructure.
Every year, thousands of fatalities occur as a result of run-off-road crashes involving guardrails and roadside barriers. The high ground clearance and reinforced structure of electric vehicles (EVs) make them particularly dangerous in these situations. Additionally, the extra weight of EVs compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles turns them into formidable weapons on the highway.
The video footage from the crash test shows the Rivian R1T effortlessly breaking through the steel guardrail, smashing into concrete barriers, and launching over the first barrier. The force of impact even dislodged the second barrier. This alarming demonstration reveals the inadequacy of current guardrail systems, which were designed before the rise of heavy EVs.
The Midwest Guardrail System (MGS), designed to withstand vehicles weighing up to 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms), simply couldn’t handle the weight and force of the Rivian R1T. This raises concerns about the safety of other popular EVs, such as the Tesla Cybertruck Foundation Series, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Hummer EV, which weigh even more.
Given the growing popularity of zero-emission vehicles and the significant weight disparity between EVs and ICEs, it is imperative that guardrail systems be redesigned to accommodate these heavier vehicles. The need for robust road safety infrastructure has never been more urgent.
