Govt extends deadline for implementing EV battery testing standards

Govt extends deadline for implementing EV battery testing standards

Road Transport and Highways Ministry has decided to implement the standards in two phases, it said.

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Chetan Bhutani
  • Sep 27, 2022,
  • Updated Sep 27, 2022 6:31 PM IST

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to give some more time to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers by extending the EV battery testing standards, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry had earlier decided to implement the standards from October 1, 2022.

The amendments include additional safety requirements related to battery cells, battery management system, on-board charger, the design of battery pack and thermal propagation due to internal cell short circuit leading to fire.

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Also Read | EXCLUSIVE: E-vehicle makers may get more time for safer battery norms

The norms will be valid for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, quadricycles and cars.

Business Today TV was the first to report on September 20 that the government is likely to give more time to EV Players to implement the standards.

The EV industry has been requesting an extension of the timeline, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had also met EV players last week.  

"While the majority of the required parameters are easily met, some new requirements have been added in the new amendment that necessitates battery design changes. The design and development and rigorous testing of these changes are required to ensure effective implementation. Hence, it is imperative to have some bandwidth in terms of timelines to execute the changes. Therefore, the EV industry seeks a humble extension from the government to allow us to execute the changes. A phased implementation timeframe can be looked at jointly with the testing agencies and the ministry too," Sohinder Gill, Director General, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), and CEO, Hero Electric had earlier told Business Today TV.

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Akshay Singhal, Founder & CEO at Log9 Materials, had earlier said, "The last six months have proven why we need to perfect our products and technologies specific to local operating conditions before they reach our customers. From rethinking our choice of cell chemistries to revamping BMS and battery architecture, the industry needs time to create a fail-proof system so that we never have to confront the issue of EV safety again. Haste in this matter will again create long-term issues."  

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to give some more time to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers by extending the EV battery testing standards, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry had earlier decided to implement the standards from October 1, 2022.

The amendments include additional safety requirements related to battery cells, battery management system, on-board charger, the design of battery pack and thermal propagation due to internal cell short circuit leading to fire.

Advertisement

Also Read | EXCLUSIVE: E-vehicle makers may get more time for safer battery norms

The norms will be valid for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, quadricycles and cars.

Business Today TV was the first to report on September 20 that the government is likely to give more time to EV Players to implement the standards.

The EV industry has been requesting an extension of the timeline, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had also met EV players last week.  

"While the majority of the required parameters are easily met, some new requirements have been added in the new amendment that necessitates battery design changes. The design and development and rigorous testing of these changes are required to ensure effective implementation. Hence, it is imperative to have some bandwidth in terms of timelines to execute the changes. Therefore, the EV industry seeks a humble extension from the government to allow us to execute the changes. A phased implementation timeframe can be looked at jointly with the testing agencies and the ministry too," Sohinder Gill, Director General, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), and CEO, Hero Electric had earlier told Business Today TV.

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Akshay Singhal, Founder & CEO at Log9 Materials, had earlier said, "The last six months have proven why we need to perfect our products and technologies specific to local operating conditions before they reach our customers. From rethinking our choice of cell chemistries to revamping BMS and battery architecture, the industry needs time to create a fail-proof system so that we never have to confront the issue of EV safety again. Haste in this matter will again create long-term issues."  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chetan Bhutani

Chetan Bhutani is a New Delhi-based economic policy journalist with ten years of experience in reporting and breaking stories about economic policy pertaining to India's infrastructure and financial sector, including highways, finance, railways, shipping, telecom, petroleum, and natural gas and currently works as an Associate Editor for Business Today TV. He is a journalist who works across multiple platforms and languages and offers in-depth coverage of the auto industry, regulations, new products, and reviews. Also, he has extensively reported about the actions taken by investigative authorities in relation to corporate and bank frauds as well as significant insolvency cases. Bhutani keeps a tight eye on all aspects of the government's public policies, from their creation to their implementation. In addition to his job, Chetan enjoys scheduling official appointments, travelling, going on road trips, playing cricket, and squash. Also, he is passionate about addressing climate change and road safety. He is a public policy enthusiast and has a master's degree in Public Administration.

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