Government extends EV battery safety norms deadline

Electric vehicle manufacturers have been given more time to comply with new government regulations on additional battery safety requirements related to battery cells, battery management systems, onboard chargers, designs of the battery pack and thermal propagation. The new regulations were to have come into effect from October 1, 2022.

Late on September 27, 2022, the government announced that “for the OEMs to be better equipped to comply /implement the provisions prescribed under the standards AIS-156 and AIS 038 (Rev 2), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to implement the Amendment 3 of the said AIS, in two phases: Phase 1 by December 1, 2022 and the second by March 31, 2023."

Based on the recommendations of a expert committee constituted by the Union transport ministry, the draft notification, initially set for an October 1, 2022 deadline, mandates conformity of production (CoP) for traction batteries used in electric powertrain vehicles. Once approved, this will ensure that EV makers and battery manufacturers stick to making vehicles that have been approved by testing agencies. 

The new regulations impact vehicles with electric powertrain with four wheels or less, classified as L category motor vehicles, as well as M category electric vehicles that are at least four wheels and used for carrying passengers as well as goods.

In April this year, cases of electric two-wheelers of manufacturers such as Ola Electric, Okinawa Autotech and PureEV catching fire were reported. Taking these EV fire accidents into consideration, Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had warned companies of penalties if they were found to be negligent and had said they will be ordered to recall the defective vehicles. 

Commenting on the latest development, Ola Electric said: "Ola Electric is fully aligned and supportive of new standards based on the AIS 156 amendment, and is committed to meeting complete compliance at the earliest. We also urge the industry peers to commit to meeting the amended regulations within the effective date of implementation. These norms are ahead of most current international standards and regulations, and will make India a world leader in EVs and cells, while accelerating our country’s and world’s transition to electric mobility."

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