Meaning
Technical regulation established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe that defines the safety requirements for electric vehicles and their rechargeable energy storage systems. Compliance with ece r100.03 is mandatory for vehicle type approval in participating markets. The regulation covers electrical safety, thermal shock, mechanical integrity and fire resistance.
Compliance Scope
Approval procedures under ece r100.03 involve subjecting the traction battery to vibration, thermal cycling, fire resistance and mechanical impact tests. These protocols verify that the system remains safe under normal and accident conditions.
Thermal Safety
Specific sections of ece r100.03 require the battery to prevent the spread of a single cell fire to the rest of the pack. Thermal propagation testing is a central part of this version of the regulation. The pack must demonstrate that it can contain an internal explosion or vent gases in a direction that does not harm the vehicle occupants.
Testing involves inducing a thermal runaway event in one cell using a heater or a needle.
Approval Process
National authorities or designated technical services conduct the audits and physical tests. A successful ece r100.03 certification allows a manufacturer to sell the vehicle model across all regions recognizing the standard.
