To set uniform safety standards, testing of electric vehicles to begin from April 1

Source: The post is based on the article “To set uniform safety standards, testing of electric vehicles to begin from April 1” published in the Indian Express on 9^th October 2022.

What is the News?

For the first time, India is set to begin testing of EVs (electric vehicles) from April 1 next year.

What is the reason for testing EVs?

There are concerns over multiple instances of fires in electric two-wheelers and four-wheelers in recent months. Currently, there are no centralised testing facilities for EVs in India and manufacturers have their own benchmarks.

So, in June, the Bureau of Indian Standards issued performance norms for lithium-ion battery packs and traction systems in line with broader ISO norms.

About the Testing of EVs

The government has mandated the Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to procure the infrastructure needed to test battery-powered vehicles.

The proposed testing infrastructure is likely to cover battery cells, battery management systems, onboard chargers, battery pack designs and screens for thermal propagation linked to internal cell short circuits that could potentially lead to fires in EVs.

About Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI)

The ARAI is the leading automotive R&D organization in the country set up by the Automotive Industry with the Government of India. It was established in 1966. It is an autonomous body affiliated with the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

The ARAI currently offers a range of certification and homologation services for automotive vehicles, systems, and components. It also assists the government in the formulation of automotive industry standards and harmonisation of regulations, alongside helping establish vehicle inspection and certification centres across the country.