The continuous rise in the price of petroleum products, plus the increase in volume of people who are becoming more environment and climate-conscious, have pushed the Philippine government agencies and private institutions to find alternative sources of fuel and efficient technologies.
Add to that the need to create and adopt programs on road transportation, particularly on cleaner and more efficient transportation, to mitigate the effects of climate change, as thousands of Filipinos commute to and from work on a daily basis.
According to a recent press release, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) has released standards that cater to the emerging market of electric vehicles (EVs).
An Electric Vehicle (EV) is any vehicle propelled by an electric motor, which draws current from a rechargeable storage battery or from other portable energy storage device made for use on public streets, roads, or highways.
Standards on Electric Vehicles
This was done in support of the government’s drive to modernise the public transport system.
The standards were focused on ensuring that the safety and road performance of electric vehicles were developed.
The Sub Committee on Electric Road Vehicles released the Philippine National Standard/International Organisation for Standardisation (PNS ISO) 6469 series of standards under the general title, Electrically Propelled Road Vehicles – Safety Specification to assure the safety of EVs.
These 6469 series of standards include the following:
- PNS ISO 6469-1:2012 Electrically propelled road vehicles – Safety Specifications – Part 1: On-board rechargeable energy storage system
- PNS ISO 6469-2:2012 Electrically propelled road vehicles – Safety Specifications – Part 2: Vehicle operational safety means and protection against failures
- PNS ISO 6469-3:2012 Electrically propelled road vehicles – Safety Specifications – Part 3: Protection of persons against electric hazards
- PNS ISO 6469-4:2012 Electrically propelled road vehicles – Safety Specifications – Part 4: Post Crash electrical safety
Specific areas of these electrically propelled road vehicles, electric propulsion systems, related components and their vehicle integration and their corresponding power and charging systems were studied, reviewed and developed.
Additionally, the BPS has adopted International Standards (IS) from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to further the advancement of standards on electric vehicles.
Other Philippine National Standards
To date, there are already 45 PNS related to EVs. These include the following:
- EV safety specification
- Fuel cell road vehicles
- Hybrid vehicle
- Charging systems
- Lithium-ion battery packs, plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets
- Vehicle grid communication interface
Since 2008, the BPS has been actively participating in the development of a more consumer and environment-friendly mode of transportation such as the electric vehicles.
In 2012 alone, 22 standards on EV were made available as a response to the emerging market of advanced public transport.
Interested parties may get a copy of the Philippine National Standards (PNS) on road vehicles for a minimal fee at the BPS Standards Data Centre; or through email.