The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a new rule to enhance safety standards for electric vehicles. This rule creates a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 305a to replace the existing standard, expanding requirements to cover both light and heavy vehicles while focusing on the safety of the propulsion battery systems. NHTSA requires manufacturers to submit standardized emergency response documents to assist responders in handling electric vehicles safely. This regulation aligns U.S. standards with the Global Technical Regulation No. 20 on electric vehicle safety and includes documentation requirements for risk mitigation in diverse conditions.
Simple Explanation
The new rule makes electric cars safer by making sure their batteries don't catch fire easily and helps firefighters with special instructions if something goes wrong. It applies to both small and big vehicles to make sure they all meet the safety standards from around the world.