The EU and Japan have already indicated that they intend to incorporate the new UNECE Regulation in their respective rules on technical standards for vehicles.
PENKI - March 10, 2010
New standards are indeed needed -- are these sufficient? --Ed.
The European Commission welcomes the adoption today at the United Nations in Geneva of the first international regulation on safety of both fully electric and hybrid cars. This landmark decision will facilitate the early introduction of safe and clean electric cars onto our roads. The technical regulation adopted today at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) ensures that cars with a high voltage electric power train, such as hybrid and fully electric vehicles, are as safe as conventional cars. Hybrid and electric cars are increasingly available on the market and are very promising in terms of making road transport clean and energy-efficient.
Vice-President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: "The number of private cars in use is set to increase exponentially over the coming years. We need to respond to this by encouraging the production and use of clean and energy efficient cars, which will be the vehicles of the future. The electric car is one green car choice available to consumers. I am keen to ensure that they are introduced on the market as soon as possible and that they are safe to use."
Typically, electric vehicles operate at very high voltages, in the range of 500 Volts. Therefore it is essential to require protection against the risk of electric shocks. The revised UNECE Regulation 100 will ensure the safety of electric cars by setting out how users of cars shall be protected from the high voltage parts of cars. For example, it prescribes a test procedure that uses a standardised 'test finger' to check protection all over the car. The rules ensure that users do not accidentally come into contact with high voltage cables. The Regulation also defines requirements on the practical use of electric cars, such as giving an...
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