ISO improves safety standard for electrically propelled
road vehicles
2009-11-19
ISO has just published an updated, improved edition of an International Standard providing safety
specifications for electrically propelled road vehicles.
The two-part ISO 6469 will help manufacturers to design fail-safe
electrically propelled vehicles, as well as provide a framework for the information they need to make
available for safety personnel and emergency responders dealing with accidents involving such vehicles.
This development takes place against the backdrop of political demands for greater safety in transportation
and a reduced environmental impact by road vehicles. This debate, which has been going on since the
1980s, has deeply influenced the technological evolution of cars and has influenced a trend towards new
modes of propulsion such as the electric motor, powered by a battery.
Part 1 of the revised ISO 6469 specifies safety requirements for the on-board rechargeable energy storage
systems (RESS) of electrically propelled road vehicles, including battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), fuel-cell
vehicles (FCVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), for the protection of persons inside and outside the
vehicle and the vehicle environment.
The requirements for the on-board rechargeable battery specified in ISO 6469-1:2009 deal with aspects
including:

The measurement of the isolation resistance of the battery

The emissions of hazardous gases to prevent explosion, fire or toxicity hazards

The heat generation from the RESS which could form a hazard to persons

Over-current generation

The realization of a crash-test in order to evaluate the protection of occupants or a third party and
protection against a short-circuit

Marking: RESS that are part of voltage class B electric circuits shall be marked with a specific symbol
described into the standard and visible when accessing the RESS.
Part 2 of ISO 6469, specifies requirements for operational safety means and protection against failures
related to hazards specific to electrically propelled road vehicles, ISO 6469-2:2009 addresses issues such
as the following:

Operational safety such as propulsion system, driving, parking, electromagnetic Compatibility

Protection against failures

Marking

Emergency response.
Part 3 of ISO 6469, which is currently under DIS-Ballot, specifies requirements for the electric propulsion
systems and conductively connected auxiliary systems for the protection of persons inside and outside of an
electric vehicle.
Dr Dietrich Sahm, Chair of ISO/TC22/SC 21 that developed the standard comments: "The new edition of this
standard will help to reduce the complexity of the relations between vehicle manufacturers and their
suppliers. ISO 6469-1:2009 and 6469-2:2009 provide answers in a rapidly evolving technology as well as to
an increasing public interest in the safety and environmental performance of electrically propelled road
vehicles."
ISO 6469-1:2009, Electric road vehicles – Safety specifications – Part 1: On-board rechargeable
energy storage system (RESS), and ISO 6469-2:2009, Electric road vehicles – Safety specifications –
Part 2: Vehicle operational safety means and protection against failures, were developed by ISO
technical committee ISO/TC 22, Road vehicles, subcommittee SC 21, Electrically propelled road vehicles,
and are available from ISO national member institutes (see the complete list with contact details). They may
also be obtained directly from the ISO Central Secretariat, respective prices 66 and 50 Swiss francs, through
the ISO Store or by contacting the Marketing, Communication & Information department .