--- title: "IIHS Is Prepping Its Crash Test Rig for Heavier EVs By Slamming Loaded Pickups Into the Wall" description: "With some EVs tipping the scales at over 9,000 pounds, the IIHS needed to make sure its crash test rigs could handle the weight." date: "2022-12-11" modified: "2022-12-11" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/iihs-is-prepping-its-crash-test-rig-for-heavier-evs-by-slamming-loaded-pickups-into-the-wall" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Electric Vehicles" - "News" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" --- # IIHS Is Prepping Its Crash Test Rig for Heavier EVs By Slamming Loaded Pickups Into the Wall ![]() Electric vehicles can get *heavy*. For example, the [Rivian ]()R1T pickup truck weighs over 7,100 pounds and the [Hummer EV]() weighs over 9,000 pounds. Due to such hefty curb weights, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had to run tests to make sure its crash test rig could handle some of the heavier electric cars coming to market. To do so, they loaded pickup trucks with metal and concrete and rammed them into a wall. The IIHS's crash test rig pulls its test cars into the wall at 40 mph. Typically, the maximum weight of its test vehicles is between 5,000-6,000 pounds. According to Raul Arbelaez, VP of the IIHS' vehicle research center, one of the heaviest vehicles the rig has ever tested was the[ Audi e-tron](), which weighs over 6,000 pounds. However, with 9,000 pound-plus cars on the horizon, the IIHS needed to make sure its crash rig could get them up to speed. ![]() So researchers at the IIHS took old, scrap pickup trucks and filled them up until they reached 9,500 pounds. And the test sled did it. It hurled the overweight trucks at the wall at 40 mph, proving that it can handle even the heaviest of upcoming EVs. Why is this important? If the IIHS can't properly test a vehicle's crash rating on its own rig, then it wouldn't be able to accurately judge its safety. The fact that it can handle such heavy vehicles is reassuring. Plus, it's just fun to watch what happens to the truck when hits the wall. The giant vault-looking box in the bed slices through the cab of the truck like butter, ending up in the front seat, and the whole truck bends upward at each end, like a banana. What's kind of terrifying, though, is the idea of what happens when a 9,000 pound SUV slams into a 2,900 pound Toyota Corolla. Sure, the passengers in the EV would likely be fine but I fear for the pour souls who have to be hit by something so heavy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljPuo2JArLE *Got tips? Send 'em over to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()