EV Makers Face Stringent Government-mandated Battery Safety Testing Starting 2023

Starting 2023 the government of India will mandate EV makers to undergo three levels of safety checks for their electric offerings. The three areas of concern include the battery pack, battery management system (BMS) and the cells themself.

2022 has seen the EV space mushroom rapidly, but it has come at a cost. Thanks to the low barrier to entry and ready availability of Chinese white label products, many EV makers have cut corners, leading to the loss of human life. EV battery packs catching fire have gone from horror of dreams to real life nightmares.

The mandate is simple: in order to claim government incentives under the PLI, ACC and FAME-II schemes, EV makers must pass a series of tests and meet certain set standards. The mandate will be applicable from April 1, 2023.

New tests under the mandate:

1- Cell Level:

Impact test, temperature cycling, shock, vibrations, fire exposure and altitude simulation.

2- Battery Management System:

Overcurrent protection, communication interface, cell voltage for each series check, current sensor check, cell temperature check, MOS (a voltage control unit) temperature check,charge MOS check, discharge MOS check, power rail check, fuse current check and cell balance function check.

3- Battery Pack Level:

Case stress test, drop/free fall, immersion and crush test.

PLI stands for Production-linked Incentives, a scheme which essentially incentivises Indian-made products. Brands like Hero Electric, Okinawa and few others are currently under government scrutiny over localisation of their e-scooters and have their FAME-II subsidies temporarily revoked.

Advance Chemistry Cell (ACC) is yet another area where questions regarding the quality of cells used within battery packs can be held accountable early on. Earlier this year, after half a dozen EV fires, a government investigation hinted that faulty battery cells and modules could be the cause behind them all.

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As you all may have read, earlier this year there were many cases of EV fires, including one of an Ola S1. These incidences led to serious backlash over sub-par imported cells. Either as a direct response to these incidences or in accordance with its own manufacturing road map, Ola recent shifted its attention towards indigenously developed cells and even signed a PLI scheme agreement to mass manufacture in India Lithium-ion battery cells.

Stringent rules, especially ones put into place for the protection of human life, is a good thing, but policing the followthrough of these regulations is like keeping up with your new year's eve resolution for a fitter and healthier life. Hope this coming year will be different.