New Delhi: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the central standard-setting agency working under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, has set new standards to maintain the minimum standards required in electric vehicle batteries. BIS has issued performance standards for EV batteries at a time when several EV fire incidents have raised safety concerns among customers.
According to the new standards issued by BIS, the batteries will have to undergo tests on the basis of performance, reliability, and electric efficiency. The new standards for EV batteries are based on a number of real-world conditions, including batteries operating at low and high temperatures.
New standards for electric vehicles
According to a BIS official, the standard “IS 17855: 2022” is designed for lithium-ion traction battery packs and systems for electric vehicles and is made to comply with ISO 12405-4:2018. Apart from the new guidelines, BIS may issue two more battery-related standards for several passenger and commercial vehicles in the coming days.
Investigation of fire incidents
Recently, a case of fire in the best-selling electric car Tata Nexon EV has also come to the fore. The Center has already ordered an independent inquiry into the incident. This is the second time that the Center has involved itself in the investigation of incidents of EV fire. Earlier, the Center had ordered a probe after several electric two-wheeler vehicles caught fire.
Electric vehicle sales increased 5 times in 2 years
The sales of electric vehicles in India have increased significantly in the last two years. In this, there has been a five-fold increase in sales in the four-wheeler and two-wheeler passenger vehicle segments. Tata Motors is the leader in the EV four-wheeler segment with more than 80 percent market share. In the two-wheeler segment, EV makers like Hero Electric, Ola Electric, and Okinawa Autotech are some of the leading players.
