Hybrid car goes head-to-head against an EV in a crash test and the surprising result changes everything
Published on Nov 02, 2026 at 7:16 AM (UTC-5)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Nov 02, 2026 at 7:17 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This hybrid car was put up against an EV in a crash test, and the result was nothing short of surprising.
YouTuber Kim Java paid a visit to the Mercedes crash test facility in Germany.
Here she witnessed a real-life T-bone as a hybrid rammed into the side of an EV.
The fallout of this collision wasn’t something she anticipated.
EVs versus Hybrids – the second biggest rivalry in the auto world?
Second only to the EV-gas comparisons, hybrids and EVs are compared constantly.
We’ve seen the Tesla Cybertruck pitted against a Lamborghini Revuelto in a drag race, and a Ferrari SF90 going head-to-head with a Tesla Model S Plaid.
But what Kim Java witnessed at a testing facility was quite distinct from your standard drag race.
It involved one car being driven into the other at a considerable speed.
What happened when a hybrid took on an EV in a crash test?
“Here’s what I want to know,” Java said.
“What happens to that giant battery when a car slams right into it?”
She was in the right place to find out.
Mercedes’ crash facility was 900 feet long, with a room containing 120 cash dummies.
For the sake of this crash test, a hybrid would launch itself into the side of an EV, hitting just inches away from the high-voltage battery inside.
With ear plugs in, Java got to watch the impact from above.
How did the EV fare after being driven into?
The crash was just as dramatic as you’d expect, with the EV sent spinning.
Java was left stunned by what she witnessed.
“Wow, I can feel it in my body, the impact was so hard!” she told her viewers.
So having witnessed the drama, it was time to get down to the brass tacks- which car had borne the brunt better?
The hybrid’s glass had remained intact, while the EV’s side glass had shattered.
“[The EV] definitely took a lot more of a beating,” Java noted.
“A lot of that has to do with these doors not necessarily having a crumple zone. Having this ultra-high strength steel that goes along the B-Pillar and the A-Pillar to protect this side of the body is so important.”
A thought she kept coming back to was the speed.
When you think about it, 35mph isn’t that fast – so you can only imagine what sort of damage a crash at a higher speed would look like.
It’s as good a reminder as any to always wear your seatbelt when in a car.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
