BIS announces new safety, quality standards for EVs: Check out what’s new

Safety and quality of electric vehicles (EV) in India has come under severe scrutiny in the last couple of years. With a rapid boom in EV demand in the past half a decade, the number of various unfortunate incidents, especially in the electric two-wheeler space has also grown exponentially.

Many EV and battery OEMs are now under the scanner for launching or developing sub-standard EV or EV components which can lead to potential hazards. In order to curb such incidents, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has introduced two new standards aimed at enhancing the safety and quality of EVs.

BIS new EV standards

These two new standards— ‘IS 18590: 2024’ and ‘IS 18606: 2024’ focus on safety and quality of critical components on electric vehicles including the powertrain. The two new standards are applicable in three categories including two-wheelers (L), four-wheelers (M), and goods trucks (N). BIS has ensured that all EVs under the three categories meet stringent safety requirements. 

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Additionally, the new standards emphasise the safety and performance of batteries, ensuring they are powerful as well as secure. BIS is of the opinion that the shift to EVs is beyond cars and trucks as E-rickshaws as well as E-Karts are gaining popularity across the country. To address this , BIS has introduced IS 18294: 2023, which establishes safety standards specifically for E-rickshaws and E-karts.

These standards cover various aspects, from construction to functionality, ensuring the safety of both drivers and passengers. With the latest additions, BIS now has a total of 30 standards dedicated to electric vehicles and their accessories, including charging systems. With expansion of the EV industry in India, the BIS had previously introduced a standardised charging protocol.

Earlier on 1 September 2022, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued amendments to the EV battery testing standards AIS-156 for two- and three-wheelers and AIS-038 (Revision 2) for four-wheelers. The new AIS-156 and AIS-038 standards were introduced by the ministry under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), which are necessary for vehicle manufacturing. 

(With inputs from PTI)