EU legal framework for approval of motor vehicles and objectives for provisions particular to electric vehicles.

Draft text as approved by GRSP for anticipated adoption during the November 2017 WP.29 session.

Proposal for a new UN Regulation for the type approval of M₁ vehicles with a total permissible mass not exceeding 3,500 kg and of N₁ with regard to fuel integrity and safety of high voltage systems in case of a rear-end collision. This proposal aligns rear impact (UN R34) and electric vehicle safety (UN R100) requirements with the new EU General Safety Regulation and with GTR 20 on electric vehicle safety.

Proposal to introduce provisions on thermal propagation as a result of a single cell thermal runaway.

Proposal to finalize a status report on Amendment 1 to UN Global Technical Regulation No. 20 on electric vehicle safety. The IWG-EVS conducted Phase 2 work addressing topics including water immersion tests, fire resistance, battery rotation and vibration, thermal propagation, and charging safety. The group maintained existing regulatory text except for thermal propagation provisions. Two compliance paths were developed: a physical test method with five initiation options and a risk management approach. Phase 3 will address thermal propagation scope expansion, post-crash safety, in-use battery maintenance, swappable batteries, light vehicles, gas emissions criteria, and bottom protection.

Proposal to amend UN Global Technical Regulation No. 20 on electric vehicle safety, focusing on thermal propagation triggered by single-cell thermal runaway. The amendment introduces two compliance paths: a physical test approach with five initiation methods (external heater, internal heaters, nail penetration, laser-based initiation) performed at vehicle or component level; and a risk management approach requiring manufacturers to document known risks and mitigation strategies. Vehicles must provide advance warning 5 minutes before hazardous conditions (fire, explosion, smoke) occur in the passenger compartment. Phase 2 discussions concluded that water immersion tests, long-term fire resistance tests, REESS rotation tests, vibration profile modifications, AC/DC charging protections, and heavy-duty overcurrent tests do not require regulatory inclusion based on available field evidence and safety analysis.

Proposal to amend para. 9.(a) to clarify expansion of the protection scope of electrical and battery safety, including thermal propagation in cases of V2X, parking, and charging. The modification addresses new vehicle functionalities like V2X, defined in UN GTR No. 22, where traction batteries cover external power and energy demand. Additional requirements must be added, including isolation resistance requirements for coupling systems for charging the REESS, as defined in para. 5.1.1.2.4.4. of UN GTR No. 20.