BSI becomes the first UKAS accredited lab for Electric Vehicle charger testing
16 November 2022
BSI, the business standards and improvement company, has today received accreditation from UKAS for their Electric Vehicle (EV) charger testing and certification labs, reaffirming BSI’s position as the leading specialist in this field, and providing an independent mark of trust for consumers on the safety and quality of EV chargers. As the UK looks to establish a more competitive and trusted EV charging network, the reassurance of the safety, reliability, performance and quality of EV chargers is of the utmost importance, which is confirmed by this independent accreditation.
With more than one million plug-in vehicles[1] registered in the UK and the 2030 deadline for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars looming, the need to scale up the availability of convenient and effective charging networks in a safe and reliable way is critical.
However, findings from a recent Which? survey revealed significant flaws with the current infrastructure leaving three-quarters of EV owners in the UK feeling dissatisfied[2]. Similar findings from the BBC last week (2nd November) found that one in four EV public charging points in Scotland were faulty – with issues ranging from broken plugs and screens to the entire system being offline[3].
BSI has a number of offerings in the EV charger space including product safety and performance testing, IECEE CB Certificates for those looking to export, a new specification on accessible public charge points (PAS 1899:2022) and a Kitemark for Electric Vehicle Charging, which supports market assurance amidst the rapid expansion and technological advancement in electric vehicles and their associated systems. This Kitemark complements BSI’s existing Electric Vehicles Charging standards (for example, BS EN 61851 series).
Graham McKay, Global Head of Energy Products at BSI, said:
“Being the first to achieve UKAS accreditation demonstrates BSI’s leading role in shaping the future of EV charger testing and certification. Our collaborative approach to standard development provides much needed reassurance to current and future electric vehicle owners of the safety, performance and quality of chargers that are certified by BSI.”
“As the only UKAS accredited lab for EV charger testing, as well as being a CB test lab for EV chargers under the global IECEE scheme, we are in a unique position to accelerate the development of trusted and reliable EV charging technology in the UK and overseas, encouraging a greater uptake of electric vehicles and helping drive the transition to a net-zero economy.”
For more information on electric vehicle charging certification and testing, visit the BSI website.
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[1] https://www.zap-map.com/ev-market-statistics/
[2] https://press.which.co.uk/whichpressreleases/which-calls-for-improvements-to-electric-vehicle-charging-networks-as-research-reveals-significant-flaws-affecting-drivers/
