In detail: Approving the update of the technical regulations for electric vehicles

Today, Friday, Umm Al-Qura newspaper published details of the decision to approve updating the technical regulations for electric vehicles, which was approved by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.
It aims to ensure that these products meet the basic requirements for preserving the environment and the health of road users and to facilitate market survey procedures.

Updating the technical regulations for electric vehicles

According to the updates, when a violation is detected in products subject to these technical regulations, the Authority will take the necessary measures, including canceling the relevant certificate of conformity, and taking the necessary measures with the accepted authority – issuing the certificate – in accordance with the regulations for accepting conformity assessment bodies.
It obliges the supplier responsible for placing those subject to this regulation on the market to obtain a certificate issued by the Authority or its authorized representative in accordance with the general regulations for conformity models issued by the Authority.
The regulation requires regulatory authorities to verify that electric vehicles subject to this regulation comply with the specified conformity assessment procedures and the attached technical documents.

Technical regulation requirements

The regulations stipulate that when a violation of products subject to these technical regulations is detected, the Authority will take the necessary measures against these products that violate the requirements of this technical regulation, including canceling the relevant certificate of conformity, and taking the necessary measures with the accepted authority – issuing the certificate – in accordance with the regulations for accepting bodies. Conformity assessment.
Anyone who violates the requirements of the approved standard specifications for products included in the scope of this technical regulation shall be punished with the penalties stipulated in the Anti-Commercial Fraud System.

According to the regulations, when any modifications occur to the electric vehicle during the validity period of the certificate of conformity or registration certificate, “except for formal modifications that do not affect the safety results and performance of the vehicle according to the authority’s discretion,” the certificate or supplier’s approval for this product becomes cancelled.
It is also necessary to submit a new application, and the supplier must notify the Authority, in its capacity as the issuer of the registration certificate, when any modifications are made to the vehicle.
The Authority has specified the basic requirements for electric vehicles, which are safety requirements against electricity leakage and electric shocks, and protection against shocks and direct contact.

Protecting the electric vehicle from the effects of water

Live electrically conductive parts provide IPXXD direct contact protection in parts of the passenger compartment or luggage area, and IPXXB protection for other areas not within the passenger compartment or luggage area, especially since the insulators are solid and the connectors are equipped with a locking mechanism.
The regulations stipulate that the electric vehicle be protected from the effects of water, with a battery alarm that gives an audio notification when it is unable to charge or the battery is low.
She explained that among the requirements are the protection of energy storage systems from thermal shock, vibration, mechanical effects, fire resistance, external short contact, excessive charging or discharging, and high and low temperatures.