Mahindra BE 6 ‘Undriveable’ After Getting Rear-Ended By Datsun: Here’s Why

Mahindra’s newest launches- the BE6 and XEV 9e have both set new benchmarks in the EV space with high levels of technology, capable powertrain and a long list of features onboard. The BE 6 in particular, further stands special with its unique design, and youthful appeal. The carmaker has started test drives of the BE 6 and XEV in many cities, and has plans of expanding the same in a phased manner. Looks like we now have news of the first official BE 6 crash! The EV here was rear-ended by a Datsun Go Plus, initiating a series of events that would shortly ignite active discussion on social media.

A video shared on Instagram shows a Datsun Go Plus and Mahindra BE 6 parked by the road. A person can be heard explaining the incident. He says the Datsun rear-ended the BE 6. Later in the video, we can see a notable dent and scratches on the left corner of the rear bumper.

It looks like the front right side of the Datsun Go Plus hit the rear (left) end of the BE 6. The Go Plus seems to have taken significant damage. It would need a headlamp, fender and bumper replacement along with some major dent-fixing and a paint job.

The video says that after the crash, the police were informed about the same- they wanted to summon both vehicles for further proceedings. The Datsun drove to the station. The BE 6, however, was ‘stuck’. It looks like the power was completely cut off.

What Might Have Happened?

The exact details or cause of this accident remain unknown as we speak. One of the possible causes is improper braking behaviour from the BE 6 driver. Another could be an unprecedented obstacle at the front that might have caused the BE 6 driver to panic-brake safely. But the Datsun Go Plus, being a cheaper, less equipped car, would have failed to stop safely and would have crashed into the Mahindra’s rear.

The chances of the first happening are minimal. The BE 6 has a complex braking mechanism that seamlessly integrates regenerative braking into the regular braking action to maximise the efficiencies of braking and energy management. The car even has a braking distance significantly shorter than many other cars in the market.

This sharper braking would require more time getting used to. If the driver is completely new to the car, and if he/she isn’t too well-versed with the peculiar nature of these brakes, such crashes could occur.

Now, why did the BE 6 stall? Why couldn’t it be driven anymore? Well, it is essentially an ‘act of sensors’. The BE 6 is a well-engineered EV packing a lot of tech and features. Almost all of these work based on sensors. There is a whole lot of them inside the car- each with its own dedicated duties and responsibilities.

In this crash, some of these sensors could have been triggered / damaged, forcing the vehicle to shut its power, and becoming drivable no more. The video mentions the same. EV crashes can be a lot more dangerous than ICE vehicle crashes, due to the high capacity batteries involved. Mahindra has sourced the BE 6 battery from BYD, which means these pass a large number of tests including fire and nail penetration. So, we should not be too worried about the battery exploding in the event of a crash.

Another possibility in this Mahindra BE 6 crash is that the impact could have triggered the Pyro fuse which would have cut power to ensure safety.