NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A second crash test failure in less than a year has raised concerns that road barriers may not be able to withstand the onslaught of electric vehicles (EVs).
       In a recent test conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, a Tesla Model 3 crashed into a three-bar barrier system at a 25-degree angle at 62 mph and penetrated the protective barrier.
       WSMV4 Investigates showed footage of the crash test failure to Tesla owner Ryan Bartholomew, who stared at the wreckage of his car.
       Previous article: ‘It Flew Right Through’: Crash Test of Barrier Raises Concerns Among Tennessee Electric Car Owners
       ”Oh! Is it going through the barrier now?” Bartholomew asked. “That’s quite interesting because it’s supposed to be one of the safest vehicles out there.”
       The tests, conducted at Texas A&M University, follow previous crash tests at the University of Nebraska, which involved a Tesla Model 3 crashing into a W-beam barrier system.
       While the initial tests caused panic, guardrail safety advocate Steve Eimers said there is still hope because the system being tested by Texas A&M University researchers is a stronger, three-beam barrier.
       ”The first crash test used a W-shaped barrier with two prongs,” Imus said. “The barrier tested at Texas A&M has three prongs, so it’s much stronger.”
       Current fencing technology may not be suitable for electric vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 because of their lower center of gravity, Imus said.
       ”That’s why I’m more concerned about this crash test,” Imus said. “We’re running out of tools,” he added.
       However, the lower center of gravity makes electric cars safer than conventional cars in some ways. Bartholomew said the safety provided by the Tesla’s low center of gravity was one of the reasons he bought a Tesla more than a year ago.
       ”It’s not easy to turn it around,” Bartholomew said. “Especially since I have two kids, the main reason I bought a Tesla was safety.”
       As electric vehicles become more popular in Tennessee and across the country, governments, automakers and fencing engineers need to find a way to work together to address the safety concerns of electric vehicles breaching these safety barriers, Imus said.
       ”We’re out of tools in our toolbox,” Imus said. “We’re in trouble. Now is not the time to panic, but now is the time to be really worried.”
       WSMV4 Investigates reached out to Tesla for comment on the crash test but had not received a response at the time of publication.
       We also reached out to the Tennessee Department of Transportation to see if the agency was aware of the recent crash test failures, but the agency did not respond either.
       “We need everyone to work together,” Imus said. “If you put two cats on a chain and make them go in opposite directions, you’re not going to solve anything. But if we all work together, we can do great things, and I believe this problem can be solved.”