The IIHS (Information Institute for Highway Safety) included plug-in electric cars in their crash-test evaluations for the very first time this year. 

The Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt earned the highest safety rating, earning the top rating (of “good”) for frontal, side, rear and rollover crash protection.  Along with a standard rating for electronic stability control, both the Volt and the Leaf earned spots among the Top Safety Picks List for 2011.

The 2011 Top Safety Picks for all sizes of cars, vans and SUVs has been published by the IIHS, and it recognizes 38 cars, 25 SUVs and one minivan, in addition to the new category of hybrid vehicles. When comparing this 2011 list to that of 2010, you will find more than twice the number of vehicles that merited the 2011 Top Safety Pick status.

Clearly, the safety engineering that automakers are utilizing in their electric cars certainly compares favorably to that being used in their gasoline powered vehicles.