While the market for electric vehicles is developing rapidly, it is not enough just to design a battery, fit a motor, and begin production if you want to get an electric vehicle onto the roads in India. Manufacturers have to show that the vehicle, its key components, battery system, and safety equipment comply with the relevant regulatory requirements in India before the vehicle can be introduced for commercial use.
There is an urgent need for Electric Vehicle Certification in India.
In general, the manufacturer should obtain CMVR type approval, comply with the particular Automotive Industry Standards (AIS), comply with battery safety standards, ensure compliance of components, perform tests and achieve production compliance. Everything depends on the type of the vehicle, its specifications, the technology applied, and its purpose of use.
The present blog post provides information about the procedure of electric vehicle certification in India and contains information about the applicable standards, documentation, test procedure, period of time, validity, problems, and things that can be done by the manufacturer before the certification.
What is Electric Vehicle Certification in India?
The process of electric vehicle certification in India involves testing and evaluating the vehicles against the relevant requirements before they are permitted to be used on the roads in India.
Compliance is unlike a single standalone ‘EV certificate’ in that it may include a number of regulatory requirements. Generally, vehicle manufacturers have to get CMVR Type Approval from a government-authorised testing organisation. In this regard, the car makers will be obliged to go for CMVR Type approval from a government-approved testing agency such as ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India), based on the type of vehicle and the regulation involved.
According to ARAI, the vehicle type approvals include those for Electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers, amongst others.
The regulatory system is mostly driven by:
- Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (CMVR)
- Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) that are relevant
- Indian Standard (IS) that are relevant
- Notifications by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH)
- Vehicle-category-specific technical and safety requirements
According to Rule 126A a Type Approval Certificate is issued by a testing agency if the vehicle meets the applicable requirements.
Which EVs Require Certification?
The route for certification is very much determined by the type of vehicle and its technical specifications.
ARAI identifies type-approval requirements for:
- Electric two-wheelers
- Electric three-wheelers
- Electric four-wheelers
- Passenger EVs
- Goods carriers
- Battery-operated vehicles
- E-rickshaws and e-carts
- Other applicable vehicle categories
For example, the current guidance of ARAI includes within its relevant type-approval scope for two-wheelers those electric vehicles which have a power output exceeding 250 W and a maximum design speed above 25 km/h. Likewise, category-specific requirements apply to electric three-wheelers and four-wheelers.
Hence, manufacturers ought to begin by determining the vehicle’s CMVR category and its technical classification rather than suppose that a single certification procedure is applicable to all EVs.
The Regulatory Framework Behind EV Certification
A serious error that manufacturers commit is to regard EV certification as involving merely a battery test.
In reality, the vehicle must meet a mix of vehicle-level, system-level, and component-level needs.
1. The Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR)
CMVR is responsible for establishing the basic regulatory framework concerning the approval of motor vehicles in India.
Within the type-approval system, testing organisations evaluate vehicles in relation to the relevant requirements and grant the appropriate approval once compliance has been shown.
2. The standards of the automotive industry (AIS)
The documents on AIS lay down the technical and testing requirements for various vehicle systems and components.
The operational guidelines for battery electric vehicles issued by the Ministry of Heavy Industries specifically mention AIS 049 and AIS 156 as applicable.
3. Battery Safety Requirements
The traction battery is one of the most important elements of an EV certification programme.
The Indian Standards developed by BIS also include those relating to EV battery performance and safety, and AIS 156 covers the key safety requirements for the Rechargeable Electrical Energy Storage System (REESS).
What Does an EV Manufacturer Need Before Applying?
Before starting with the Electric Vehicle Certification for Indian manufacturers, the manufacturer must first establish both technical and regulatory readiness.
Basic requirements include:
- Defined EV model and variant
- Correct vehicle category/classification
- Technical specifications
- Motor and power details
- Battery and REESS specifications
- Electrical architecture
- Vehicle drawings and layouts
- Charging system information, where applicable
- Safety-critical component details
- Manufacturing information
- Test vehicle/prototype
- Applicable component approvals
- Required quality-control and production arrangements
The manufacturer ought to identify the relevant standards before putting together the final compliance package.
The BIS suggests that you should first determine the relevant Indian Standard and then examine the necessary manufacturing infrastructure, process controls, quality control and testing capabilities.
Documents Required for Electric Vehicle Certification
Documentation plays an important role in the certification of electric vehicles in India.
ARAI’s type-approval guidance identifies documents such as:
- To set up the business, the documents needed include a company registration certificate, the IEC numbers, and authorization letters in order to establish the company’s identity.
- A description of the product containing details about the charger’s technical specifications, such as its power rating and voltage capacity, etc.
- Reports on electrical safety, performance, and environmental testing carried out in authorized laboratories.
- As for quality control, information concerning the quality control of the product.
The technical documents, test reports, component certificates and declarations might be needed depending on the type of vehicle and the certification route.
Step-by-Step Electric Vehicle Certification Process
Step 1: Product & Category Assessment
The first thing to do is to make it completely clear exactly what the certification concerns.
UMSPCS looks at the type of vehicle, its intended use, its power, its speed, how the battery is arranged, its category, and the technology involved.
Step 2: Regulatory Mapping
The pertinent requirements set out in the CMVR, the AIS standards, the battery requirements, and all other relevant regulations are all listed, which means that companies cannot test against the wrong standard.
Step 3: Technical Documentation
The technical specifications needed, together with the drawings, the details regarding the components, and the other supporting documents, have been arranged.
Step 4: Prototype Readiness
The manufacturer builds the prototype or standard vehicle/system in line with the applicable test requirements.
Step 5: Testing
The testing is carried out in coordination with the appropriate notified or recognised testing agency.
Arai carries out certification and homologation work for vehicles and components and provides CMVR type approval services for all the various EV categories.
Step 6: Test Report Review
To make sure that the test results meet the relevant regulatory requirements, they are checked.
If any defects are discovered, further testing or corrective action may then be necessary.
Step 7: Type Certification
Once the requirements have been successfully demonstrated, the relevant approval or certification documentation will be completed.
Step 8: Post-Approval Compliance
Manufacturers may also be required to make sure that their production conforms to the required standards and to keep compliance going so long as production continues.
How Long Does Electric Vehicle Certification Take in India?
There is no fixed, uniform timeline for obtaining certification of electric vehicles in India since the time required can vary a great deal from project to project. The total timeframe will depend on several factors related to technical aspects, documentation, and testing, such as:
- Vehicle category
- Number of models or variants
- Scope of testing required
- Battery technology and configuration
- Prototype readiness
- Completeness and accuracy of documentation
- Testing-agency schedule and availability
- Test failures or non-conformities
- Design or technical modifications
- Retesting requirements
- Extension or variant approval requirements
As a benchmark, ARAI takes 45 working days to carry out full-level vehicle type approval, 30 working days for partial-level type approval, and 10 working days for documentation approval, on the condition that the relevant request and requirements are met.
Yet it would be wrong to regard these figures as a certain timeline for the entire project. The real certification process might take longer since manufacturers could need extra time for preparing the prototype, finalising the documents, carrying out testing, correcting any non-conformities, making modifications, retesting, and meeting other regulatory requirements.
Indian manufacturers who intend to obtain Electric Vehicle Certification should assess the full project scope and compliance requirements before giving a final estimate of the timeline. Read more about CE Certification in India.
Key Benefits of EV Certification
Proper Electric Vehicle Certification for Indian Manufacturers helps businesses:
- Establish regulatory compliance
- Demonstrate vehicle safety and performance
- Support lawful market introduction
- Facilitate vehicle registration where applicable
- Improve customer confidence
- Reduce regulatory risk
- Establish technical credibility
Support eligibility under applicable government programmes where additional criteria are met
Create a structured compliance record for future variants
For instance, the PM E-DRIVE guidelines issued by the Ministry of Heavy Industries stipulate that relevant vehicle models must adhere to the CMVR and the notified IS standards if they are to be eligible for the scheme. Also, get to know more about EPR for Tyre Waste.
What Makes UMSPCS the Choice for Electric Vehicle Certification?
UMSPCS is able to help EV manufacturers with the regulatory and documentation aspects of their certification process.
With 6+ years of experience and expertise in 600+ product compliance requirements, UMSPCS helps manufacturers follow a structured roadmap for smooth and efficient certification.
Our support can include:
- EV product and category assessment
- Applicable standard identification
- Electric Vehicle Certification in India guidance
- Documentation preparation and review
- Testing and laboratory coordination
- Technical compliance support
- Certification application assistance
- Regulatory query support
- Follow-up with relevant stakeholders
- Support for modified variants
- Ongoing compliance guidance
Conclusion
The process of getting from an EV prototype to a vehicle suitable for sale involves far more than just passing a battery test. Manufacturers have to know about the relevant CMVR requirements, the IS standards, the vehicle category, compliance of the components, the testing requirements, and the obligations relating to conformity after approval.
The best way for businesses looking to obtain Electric Vehicle Certification for manufacturers in India is to start their compliance planning when the product is being developed.
UMSPCS can assist you in identifying the relevant requirements, in arranging the documentation, in coordinating the testing, and in going through the certification process in a more systematic way.
Looking at launching an electric vehicle in India?
Talk to UMSPCS now and speak with our compliance experts about your EV certification requirements.
Read more also: How to Get BIS ISI Certification for Stainless Steel Welded Pipes
FAQs
- What is meant by Electric Vehicle Certification in India?
It is the regulatory approval procedure by which an electric vehicle is checked against the relevant CMVR, AIS, and other applicable requirements prior to its introduction to the market.
- Is it necessary for every electric vehicle to have BIS certification?
It doesn’t have to be a single general BIS certificate; the requirements vary according to the vehicle, the components, and the relevant regulations. There may be particular BIS requirements for some safety-critical components.
- Who is responsible for granting type approval to EVs in India?
Testing agencies with official authority, for example ARAI, carry out vehicle type approval and certification in accordance with the relevant regulatory framework.
- What are the standards for electric vehicles?
The requirements will vary according to the type of vehicle and the technology involved; the ones that apply may be CMVR, AIS standards such as AIS 049 and AIS 156, and the relevant Indian Standards.
- Does AIS 156 matter for EV certification?
The AIS 156 does include important requirements concerning the safety of the Rechargeable Electrical Energy Storage System and that of the EV battery, especially in the case of the relevant vehicle categories.
- Is it necessary to obtain new certification when replacing the EV battery?
The impact of a major change might cause the approved configuration to be affected and could call for extra testing, documentation, or permission for extension. The specific requirements will vary according to the type of change.
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