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.

Draft request prepared by the EU proposing a Phase 3 covering:

1. Expansion of protection scope of thermal propagation test;
2. Post-crash REESS safety assessment, stabilization procedures and nonoccupant and surroundings safety;
3. Maintaining the EV battery safety during the in-use phase;
4. Safety of swappable batteries;
5. Micromobility, light-category vehicles, e-trailers safety;
6. Quantitative criteria on flammability, toxicity and corrosiveness of vented gases and smoke; and
7. Bottom protection.