This year, for the first time, the Information Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) performed crash-test evaluations on plug-in electric cars.  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.

As a consumer, you can be confident that automakers are utilizing safety engineering in their electric cars that rival that used in their vehicles with internal combustion engines.

The 2011 Top Safety Picks for all sizes of cars, vans and SUVs has been published by the IIHS.  This list recognizes 38 cars, 25 SUVs and one minivan, in addition to the Volt and Leaf hybrid vehicles. Compared to 2010, you will find more than double the number of vehicles to choose from that meet the safety criteria used by the IIHS.