U.S. National Electric Vehicle Safety Standards Summit Report Released

ANSI April Workshop to Drive Widespread Implementation of Electric Vehicles

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and SAE International have released a summary report from the co-hosted U.S. National Electric Vehicle Safety Standards Summit in October. The purpose of the summit was to develop the base elements for an action plan for the safe implementation of electric vehicles, using fire and electrical safety standards as the primary mechanism for this action plan.

The summit focused on the fundamental codes and standards in the areas of vehicles, built infrastructure, and emergency responders. Through this lens, the summit identified six areas for further attention:

• charging infrastructure
• understanding battery hazards
• vehicle features that address concerns of emergency responders
• permitting and inspection
• training and education
• aftermarket vehicles and components

To help address these issues, the summary report details action plans in three main areas: 1) vehicle charging infrastructure; 2) battery hazards identification and protection; and 3) training for emergency responders and enforcement officials.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) president and CEO S. Joe Bhatia provided a keynote address to open the summit. In his remarks he underscored the critical role of standards and conformity assessment-based solutions in driving this national priority.

"With both the Obama administration and consumers pushing for electric vehicle technology, those of us in the standardization community have an absolutely critical job to do," said Mr. Bhatia. "Standardization needs for electric vehicles reach far beyond the driver's seat. We need to make sure that the technologies and infrastructure are effective, safe, and ready to accommodate this major shift in our national automotive landscape."

To help achieve the safe and large-scale implementation of electric vehicles, ANSI will host the ANSI Workshop: Standards and Codes for Electric Drive Vehicles on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Idaho National Laboratory. [See related news item]

To be held on April 5-6, 2011, in Bethesda, Maryland, the ANSI workshop will consider current and future U.S. domestic, regional, and international standards, codes, and conformity assessment activities needed to facilitate the widespread acceptance and deployment of grid-connected electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and support services.

The ANSI workshop will provide a neutral environment where all interested stakeholders can assist in identifying current gaps in applicable codes and standards, and explore opportunities for collaboration and coordination. A report detailing the workshop findings will be produced following the event.

For further details on the ANSI workshop, including a draft agenda and registration information, visit www.ansi.org/edv.