This paper examines implications of the widespread introduction of a "City-only" compact car, using as examples the prototypes VW Chico and BMW E 1 (both compact cars suitable for city and rural areas) and the Concept study "City-only" car ERI-CAR II. Besides the obvious advantages in ecology, economy and traffic space, there are possibly additional safety advantages in lower accident frequency (lower acceleration), lower accident severity (lower velocity), and lower aggressiveness (lower masses). On the other hand these small and lightweight cars are more vulnerable especially in car-to-car crashes because of larger deformation/intrusions and higher speed variations/accelerations. variations/accelerations. Beside the lower level of "self-protection", there could arise disadvantages from the higher number of these cars overcompensating the space saving of the single subcompact car. (A)
Samenvatting