Experts advise EV buyers to ensure battery certification

Hyderabad: The most important consideration while purchasing an electronic vehicle (EV) is to ensure that batteries have basic certification by government-associated institutions and regulatory bodies, such as ICAT and ARAI, according to technical and legal experts.

“Battery providers need to receive ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) certification under AIS (Automotive Industry Standard) 156 amendment that has an extensive experience in testing and certifying products and components for safety and performance,” an expert said.

Three major areas of concern, following reportage of over a dozen instances of EVs catching fire, are the battery pack, battery management system (BMS) and the cells inside, after a government probe hinted at faulty battery cells and modules for causing fires.

The ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) said it has taken steps to address battery safety concerns in e-vehicles by introducing new battery safety norms from October 1, 2022. The updated regulations, under AIS-038 Rev 2/AIS-156, are equivalent to EU standards and include environmental and thermal propagation tests.

Rohit Vadera, CEO of PURE EV, a Hyderabad-based firm, said, “The new regulatory standards for the batteries, AIS 156, is a welcome step that the government has taken to enhance the safety norms. These new standards will ensure that all battery packs comply with the rules certified by the testing agencies.”  

“Despite the benefits of EVs, recent incidents of fires have led to a decrease in sales. It is important to note that these accidents were mainly due to negligence of customers who overcharge or charge it in an unsuitable environment such as kitchen, bedroom, etc.,” Vadera said.  

He advised users not to charge the battery immediately after a long run, as it may cause overheating and subsequently, fire.

Mohd Abdul Yousuf, a legal associate with PURE EV, said that legal compliance for purchasing an EV highlights the importance of adhering to the user manual.

“From a legal perspective, consumers must be aware of the legal compliances in place while purchasing an EV, such as safety certifications (from regulatory bodies), warranty, incentives, subsidies and insurance. EVs come with a mandatory three-year warranty and EV manufacturers are required to provide a minimum of five years of support for components, which ensures that consumers are protected in case of an issue with the vehicle,” Abdul said.

Another city-based technical expert on e-batteries said, “The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) charger will not allow overcharging. If the (lithium-ion) battery gets overcharged by using other chargers, it is not recommended as it significantly affects the life cycle of the battery and may lead to a thermal runaway, in which the battery cells reach a critical temperature that cause them to spontaneously combust.”