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Sustainability in automotive

Automotive sustainability standards are crucial to the future of the automotive sector. The pressure on companies to be eco-friendly is not about to go away, while in future the need to be seen to be green will only rise in commercial importance. Automotive businesses must demonstrate sustainability to be successful – and automotive sustainability standards can really help.

Driving sustainability in the automotive industry

Explore how standards are helping automotive manufacturers to adopt sustainable practices

How sustainability standards will drive your automotive business performance
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How sustainability standards will drive your automotive business performance

Driving change in the way we address our economic, social, and environmental challenges is high on everyone’s agenda; from achieving net zero, pollution reduction, climate change, and environmental regeneration. With green issues regularly hitting the headlines, automotive businesses around the world face growing calls to minimize their environmental impact. To ignore this pressure is to risk reputational damage, higher financial costs, and even commercial catastrophe. To be a successful automotive organization, you need to focus on sustainability to achieve long-term, enduring resilience. Can standards help your automotive business become sustainable? Automotive businesses must demonstrate sustainability to be successful – and standards can really help. Standards advocate best practices, champion sustainability, and boost organizational resilience. They can help you achieve your sustainability goals whatever they may be, for any organization large or small – at the beginning of your sustainability journey or at a point where extra support can help you to achieve objectives and progress onto the next step. They do this by: Leveraging strategic advantage and leadership. Enhancing operational effectiveness. Managing risk and reputation with compliance. Living Up to Expectations: Standard BS ISO 14001 For automotive businesses that want to manage their broad environmental impact, standard BS EN ISO 14001 provides a robust framework. The internationally accepted standard sets out how to put in place an effective environmental management system. Widely adopted by organizations of all sizes since its inception in 1996, it enables you to identify the various ways in which your business impacts the environment; understand the environmental legislation that affects you and seek efficiency savings. Standard BS EN ISO 14001 helps businesses in the following way: Identity and establish the significance of all your environmental impacts. Understand which legislation applies to your activities. Implement effective operational controls to manage your environmental impacts. Improve the efficient use of natural materials. Improve waste management. Reduce operational costs. Sharpen your environmental performance. Protect and enhance your reputation. Save energy and cut costs: Standard BS ISO 50001 Standard BS EN ISO 50001 represents the latest best-practice tool in energy management. It not only helps automotive organizations become more sustainable but also benefits them by attributing direct cost savings, improving corporate reputation, improving compliance, and increasing morale among staff. The scope of this standard helps organizations gain a deeper understanding of energy consumption in order to drive continual improvement of energy performance. The standard provides a framework to help – whatever your size, sector, or geographical location. It outlines what your business needs to consider in order to develop and implement a robust energy policy, establishing objectives, targets, and action plans to control energy use. How can the automotive industry achieve a sustainable future? The pressure on companies to be eco-friendly is not about to go away, while in the future the need to be seen to be green will only rise in commercial importance. In 2008 the automotive industry began collaborating to support a transformation in internal combustion technology and a reduction in CO2 emissions per kilometre. Developments such as Electric Vehicles (EVs) are helping this. Further sustainability improvements the transport industry can make include: • Conducting more rigorous lifecycle assessments. • Pursuing low-cost, high-volume manufacturing. • Increasing recycling in supply chains. • Using more sustainable raw materials. • Encouraging legislation to drive the right long-term approaches. To read more on the topic of EV, Decarbonization, and Net Zero Emissions, click here. Discover BSI Knowledge At their core, our standards inform an efficient use of available resources and promote a focus on achieving sustainable supply chain practices - from energy management and material recycling strategies to electric vehicle technologies. Our tailored BSI Knowledge subscription service provides flexibility, access, visibility, and control over the standards and insights your team needs to achieve this objective. Request to learn more.Read more
Achieving zero-emission vehicles: How automotive standards are driving progress for electric vehicles
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Achieving zero-emission vehicles: How automotive standards are driving progress for electric vehicles

Driven by a convergence of social trends and technological advances, a mobility revolution is underway, giving rise to a completely new automotive ecosystem and a range of new entrants to the sector. The new automotive supply chain places the consumer at its heart and links in ever more strongly with new technology providers and road infrastructure. A key advancement in this sector has been electric vehicles (EVs). The increasing use of EVs will reduce oil dependency and the environmental impact of transportation. Beyond the personal vehicle market which includes cars, electric scooters, and bikes and service providers are purchasing thousands of electric delivery vehicles. Electric buses are becoming widespread in many cities. Improved battery technologies have reduced the cost and extended the operational range of EVs. Wireless and plug-in charging systems are also evolving rapidly. EVs will even be able to store energy and feed it back into the grid when required. Standards play an essential role in providing the whole EV infrastructure. The Faraday Battery Challenge Backed by the UK government, the Faraday Battery Challenge is investing in research, innovation projects and scale-up facilities for batteries to be used in the electrification of future vehicles. As well as helping the UK move to zero-emissions vehicles, this will create new opportunities and supply chains. It will also make the most of the growing batteries market – estimated to be worth £5bn in the UK and £50bn across Europe by 2025. Faraday was set up to look at why more people aren’t buying electric cars today, and to deliver solutions to meet the targets for mass UK adoption. It has three pillars: the Faraday Institution, with 450 researchers; 125 organizations working on collaborative R&D projects; and a new £130m Battery Industrialization Centre that can help commercialize new products and materials through to market. Faraday also works alongside other partners, such as the Advanced Propulsion Centre through which Faraday launched the Automotive Transformation Fund. This provides £1bn of new funding to support at-scale industrialization of electric vehicle technologies. The BSI-Faraday standards program has been working on health and safety in the manufacturing process and on the environmental impact of batteries. For example, PAS 7061 sets out good practices for the safe handling of battery packs and modules. Foundation for Electric Vehicles: New Code of Practice for Battery Handling As the UK prepares for the future ban on the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles, the new standards will help to reduce health and safety risks and create environmental best practices throughout the life cycle of EV batteries. The new standard, PAS 7061 Batteries for vehicle propulsion electrification – Safe and environmentally-conscious handling of battery packs and modules – Code of practice, outlines best practices from sourcing material, through to manufacturing, use, and disposal. It will help companies involved in pack and module battery manufacture to innovate quickly, safely, and sustainably as the UK seeks to make its mark on this emerging international industry. It will also help vehicle manufacturers, dealerships, and recycling organizations to manage risks when handling batteries throughout their lifetime. The standard covers eleven handling themes including storage, hazards, and fumes. PAS 7060 looks at the use of traction batteries in relation to electric vehicle design, including pure EVs, hybrid EV’s, plug-in hybrid EVs and fuel cell hybrid EVs. PAS 7060:2021 provides design guidance for minimizing environmental effects and safety risks from the development, manufacture, customer use, and eventual disposal of the vehicle and likely re-use of the battery. There’s a growing demand for battery storage, with the market estimated to be worth £5 billion to the UK and £50 billion to Europe by 2025. PAS 7062:2021 covers the manufacturing of electrodes and cells for many applications, specifically with a focus on electrically-propelled vehicles, including electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles. The PAS includes recommendations for the quality, safety, and environmentally conscious handling and management of materials, components, and cells throughout the manufacturing processes, before being assembled into a module or pack. To read an overview of current and emerging international standards related to batteries for electrification, download our Standards Landscape Report. Key Electric Vehicle Standards Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (EV) and their components can use standards to ensure they reach expected quality, safety, and efficiency levels - regardless of their position on the supply chain. There are many standards that manufacturers can use to inform EV design and aid legislative compliance. For example, the BS ISO 6469 series is a wide-ranging standard, over three parts, which provides: Safety specifications for rechargeable energy storage systems for EVs. Functional and operational safety means. Specific protection against electrical hazards. It's vital that systems and components involved in EV charging are safe and efficient. BS EN IEC 61851-1 outlines general requirements for EV conductive charging systems. The standard covers characteristics, specifications, and safety requirements for the power supply, and the connection between this charging equipment and the vehicle. DD CLC/TS 50457-2, meanwhile, provides a communication protocol between the off-board charger and EV in conductive charging situations.PD CLC IEC TS 61980-2 gives requirements around the communication between vehicle and wireless power transfer (WPT) systems connected to the supply network. Another fundamental standard for manufacturers in this area is BS EN 62196-2, which provides requirements for plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors, and vehicle inlets in terms of dimensional compatibility and interchangeability requirements for pin and contact-tube accessories. Once a satisfactory connection can be achieved, the vehicle must communicate with the power grid. BS EN ISO 15118-3 provides requirements for a physical vehicle-to-grid communication interface, as well as data-link requirements and basic signaling. Similarly,BS EN ISO 15118-8 offers requirements for wireless communication interfaces. There are also standards around battery swapping scenarios – when a discharged battery is replaced with a full one to avoid charging delays. PD IEC TS 62840-1 provides manufacturers with overarching guidance on such systems, while BS EN IEC 62840-2 outlines specific safety requirements. Our standards help to ensure that electric vehicles and their components reach expected quality, safety, and efficiency levels - regardless of their position on the supply chain, building trust in the adoption of this technology. With a BSI Knowledge subscription, you will have the flexibility and visibility to manage the key standards you need to bring your electric vehicle products to market. Build your own custom collection of standards, or opt for access to our GBM27 Road Vehicle Engineering module and keep up-to-date with any relevant changes to your standards strategy. Request to learn more. Add all the key electric vehicle standards to your collection today.
What are 5 challenges electric vehicles face today?
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What are 5 challenges electric vehicles face today?

With sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans due to end in the UK by 2030, the race to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) is on. This new automotive ecosystem continues to bring with it a host of new technology providers, alongside significant and ongoing changes to road infrastructure. Here we take a look at the current state of the market, key challenges for the sector, and examine how standards are playing an essential role in supporting the whole EV infrastructure. What’s the situation for electric vehicles in the UK today? More than 260,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were sold in the UK in 2022, accounting for 16.6% of all sales and coming second behind petrol models. Additionally, hybrid cars made up 11.6% of sales and plug-in hybrids 6.3%. This has filtered down to the second hand market too: a record 71,071 used BEVs were sold, a rise of 37.5% from 2021. Sales of used hybrids rose 8.6% and plug-in hybrids 3.6%. Globally, the International Energy Association (IEA) says there were 16.1 million electric vehicles on the roads in 2021 – triple the figure from three years earlier. However, it says more needs to be done if the world is to remain on track for net zero emissions by 2050. So, what are the main barriers, and how are they being overcome? 1) Charging infrastructure According to a 2022 AA poll, other than affordability, concerns about lack of rapid charging points on motorways remains the main barrier to purchasing an EV. Thankfully, things are improving. In February 2023, there were almost 39,000 public chargers in the UK at more than 23,000 locations, compared with just over 8,000 conventional fuel stations. Additionally, there were an estimated 400,000 home and workplace charging points, some of which are available to the public. 2) Range anxiety This describes the fear felt by drivers that their electric vehicle will not have the power to complete a journey. However, with 99% of car journeys in England under 100 miles, most drivers will find their needs met by EVs. There’s also good news for drivers who frequently undertake longer journeys. The battery power of new EV models is increasing all the time, with ranges of 300 or even 400 miles per single charge now common. 3) Accessibility Despite some progress, accessibility remains a major roadblock to widespread EV adoption. Not only is cost a major barrier for much of the population, but there are also issues posing a challenge to other would-be EV drivers. For example, the disability charity, Motability, has reported that from poor signage to inappropriate parking facilities, disabled EV users are being failed on many levels when it comes to public charging facilities. BSI has published PAS 1899:2022 Electric vehicles – Accessible charging – Specification to improve charging point design for drivers with disabilities. It’s free to download. 4) Vehicle charging bays near homes Not every would-be EV owner has off-street parking suitable for installing a home charging point, especially if they live in a city. Local councils can be slow to respond to requests for on-street charging bays, or lack the budget to invest in the infrastructure. Unfortunately, there is unlikely to be a short-term fix for EV owners without off-street parking. While the government has launched funding schemes to improve EV charging infrastructure (by incorporating charging points in lampposts and bollards, for example), progress remains slow. 5) Cost of electricity If you fill your car with petrol, you’d expect to pay for it yourself. However, as the cost of energy rises, some drivers are concerned about footing the bill. According to a 2022 AA survey, 63% of respondents reported that rising energy costs have put them off buying an EV. However, this could point to a lack of education on the true costs of fuelling different vehicle types. Currently, one full charge is relatively cheap, even allowing for rising energy costs. Charging a small car at home can cost as little as 3.4p per mile, according to Which? Plus, as of November 2022, around 11% of public charging points were free, including many at supermarkets, workplaces and in car parks. 6) Problems with vehicle charging up at stations There are differences at charge point facilities that cause confusion. One example is the speed of charging. A slow charge point (3 kW) will charge a vehicle in around 6-12 hours, depending on its battery size. A fast charge point (of 7 kW or 22 kW) will do so in 4-5 hours, a rapid charge point (of 43-50 kW) in around one hour, while ultra-rapid charge points (100+ kW) take 20-30 minutes. Another confusion concerns connection cables, with drivers sometimes finding that charge points do not have the right one for their vehicle. According to BS EN IEC 61851-1:2019 Electric vehicle conductive charging system - General requirements, there are three possible cable types: Connection with attached plug and cable, where the cable assembly is part of the vehicle. Connection with cable and vehicle connector, where the detachable cable assembly is not part of the vehicle or the charging station. Connection with cable and vehicle connector, where the cable assembly is part of the EV charging station. Drivers can check their vehicle’s specifications to confirm the right cable for their needs, and buy extra cables from dealers. For more details, take a look at Zap Map’s EV charging connector types page. You can buy the relevant standards from BSI Knowledge, where members get 50% off. Discover BSI Knowledge  Over 100,000 internationally recognized standards are available for simple and flexible access with a BSI Knowledge subscription. Our tailored subscription service allows you to build your own custom collection of standards or opt for access to one of our pre-built modules, keeping you up to date with any changes. With support from a dedicated BSI account manager, our subscription service helps you achieve a more coherent and effective approach to best practice. Request to learn more.

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