In the wave of digitalization and green energy, electric vehicles (EVs) have become the rising stars of the global automotive industry. However, with the rapid popularity of electric vehicles, their safety issues have also attracted increasing attention from the public and the industry. On June 11, the official website of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a major news, announcing that the draft of the mandatory national standard for "Safety Requirements for Electric Vehicle Conduction Charging System" has been formed, and publicly solicits opinions from all walks of life. The development of this new regulation is not only an important supplement to the existing safety standards for electric vehicles, but also a positive response to consumer safety concerns.
The importance of safety standards for electric vehicles
Safety has always been a core issue in the development of electric vehicles. In 2020, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has organized the formulation of three mandatory national standards, including "Safety Requirements for Electric Vehicles", "Safety Requirements for Electric Buses" and "Safety Requirements for Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles", which improve the safety performance of electric vehicles in terms of electrical safety, functional safety, and battery system thermal event alarm. On this basis, the draft of the new national standard further strengthens the safety of the charging system, covering the high standard requirements of vehicle sockets, power supply plugs and cables, as well as detailed regulations on personnel electric shock protection, thermal accident protection, electromagnetic immunity, etc.
Figure: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a draft of the "Safety Standards for Electric Vehicle Charging".
The main content and highlights of the new national standard
The release of the draft of the new national standard for comments is a deepening and improvement of the safety standards for electric vehicle charging. Its main contents include, but are not limited to:
- Safety requirements for vehicle sockets and power supply plugs: Ensure that vehicle sockets and power supply plugs can prevent misoperation and accidental disconnection during charging, ensuring the continuity and safety of charging.
- High standard requirements for cables: The materials, structures and properties of cables are specified to meet the charging needs in different environments and reduce safety accidents caused by cable problems.
- Personnel electric shock protection: Higher requirements are put forward for the insulation performance and leakage protection of the charging system to prevent personnel electric shock accidents during the charging process.
- Thermal accident protection: In view of the thermal runaway phenomenon that may occur during the charging process of electric vehicles, corresponding protective measures and early warning mechanisms are proposed.
- Electromagnetic immunity: Considering the stability of charging equipment in complex electromagnetic environments, clear requirements are put forward for electromagnetic compatibility.
Rapid development and challenges of the electric vehicle market
The rapid growth of China's new energy vehicle market not only reflects consumers' demand for environmentally friendly travel, but also reflects the strong popularity of new energy vehicles in China. According to iiMedia Research, the size of China's new energy vehicle market will reach 1.15 billion yuan in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 16.2%. At the same time, in 2023, the production and sales of new energy vehicles in China will be 9.587 million and 9.495 million respectively, a year-on-year increase of 35.8% and 37.9%, respectively, and the market share will reach 31.6%, ranking first in the world for 9 consecutive years.
However, the rapid development of the market has also brought a series of challenges, including technology upgrades, cost control, market competition, etc. The implementation of the new national standard may increase the production cost of enterprises, which will have an impact on the market pricing and competitiveness of products. In addition, how to ensure the widespread implementation and regulation of the new standard is also a problem that the industry needs to face.
Conclusions and prospects
The formulation of the "Safety Requirements for Electric Vehicle Conduction Charging System" is an inevitable choice for the development of the electric vehicle industry. It is not only about the present of the industry, but also about the future of the industry. In the face of the challenges and opportunities brought by the new national standard, enterprises and consumers should actively adapt and jointly promote the safety, health and sustainable development of the electric vehicle industry.
Enterprises and industry organizations need to strengthen technology research and development to improve product safety, while controlling costs and ensuring the cost-effectiveness of electric vehicles. The government and regulatory agencies should strengthen the supervision and guidance of the implementation of the standards to ensure the effective implementation of the new national standards. Consumers should also raise their safety awareness and choose electric vehicle products that meet the new national standard.
The release of the new national standard is a major upgrade of the safety standards of the electric vehicle industry. It reflects the country's high sense of responsibility for public safety, and also demonstrates the forward-looking planning for the development of the industry. Although the implementation of the new standard may bring certain challenges, it is also the only way to promote the technological progress of the industry and enhance the competitiveness of products. We expect that under the guidance of the new national standard, the electric vehicle industry can usher in a new era of safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly.
With the continuous advancement of technology and the gradual maturity of the market, the safety of electric vehicles will be more widely recognized and valued. The formulation and implementation of the new national standard will provide a solid foundation for the safe development of electric vehicles and bring consumers a more secure travel experience. At the same time, it is also an important manifestation of China's leading role in the global new energy vehicle industry, which will help promote the green transformation and sustainable development of the global automotive industry.
epilogue
As an important direction of future travel, the formulation and improvement of safety standards of electric vehicles are of great significance for protecting the rights and interests of consumers and promoting industrial upgrading. The draft of the new national standard is not only a comprehensive combing of the safety requirements for electric vehicle charging, but also a far-reaching layout for the future development of the industry. Let us all look forward to the fact that under the escort of the new national standard, electric vehicles can drive towards a safer, cleaner and smarter future.
