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The Centre has recommended additional safety requirements in the existing battery safety standard,s with effect from October 1, with the amendments including additional safety requirements related to battery cells, battery management system (BMS), on-board charger, design of battery pack, thermal propagation due to internal cell short circuit leading to fire etc.

Based on the recommendations of an expert committee report, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway, on August 29 issued amendment 2 to AIS 156- Specific requirements for motor vehicles of L category (motor vehicles with less than four wheels and a quadricycle) with electric power train. It also issued amendment 2 to AIS 038 Rev. 2 - Specific requirements for Electric Power Train of motor vehicles of M category (motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying passengers) and N category (motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying goods which may also carry persons in addition to the goods).

Against the backdrop of number of cases of fire incidents observed in electric two wheelers in different parts of the country, the Ministry had constituted an Expert Committee, chaired by Tata Narsingh Rao (Director, ARC, Hyderabad), and other members to recommend additional safety requirements in the existing battery safety standards notified under CMV Rules.

The notification to mandate amended AIS 156 and AIS 038 Rev 2 standards for the respective categories of electric vehicles with effect from October 1 is in progress.

The Ministry also issued draft notification GSR 659 (E), dated August 25, to amend Sub-rule 4 of Rule 124 of Central Motor Vehicles Rule (CMVR) 1989, for mandating conformity of production (COP) for traction batteries used in electric powertrain vehicles. The proposed regulation will be applicable with effect from October 1. Comments and suggestions have been solicited from all stakeholders within a period of 30 days.