Read Electric Vehicle Info in 30 Seconds... Autonomous Vehicle Inspection Equipment Goes Global [Report]

Advanced Automobile Inspection Research Center, KADIS and Other New Technology Demonstrations
Expansion of Device Distribution...Mandatory Electric Vehicle Battery Inspection Next Year
Autonomous Vehicle Driving Simulator Inspection...Efforts for International Standardization

If the Korea Transportation Safety Authority manages and controls road hazards in Sangju, Gyeongbuk, in Gimcheon it monitors the safety of electric vehicle batteries and inspects autonomous vehicle component devices. The Authority is striving to alleviate concerns about electric vehicles caused by a series of battery fires.

The Korea Transportation Safety Authority is conducting inspections using the Battery Management System (BMS) with the electric vehicle battery precision diagnostic device (KADIS) developed by the authority. / Photo by Noh Kyung-jo

At the Advanced Vehicle Inspection Research Center in Gimcheon, visited on the 8th, the electric vehicle inspection process using the Battery Management System (BMS) could be observed. BMS is a system that detects and warns the status of electric vehicle batteries in real time.

The government is revising the enforcement regulations of the "Automobile Management Act" to mandate BMS inspection and diagnostic items. In this regard, the Authority plans to expand and commercialize the distribution of its self-developed precision diagnostic device (KADIS) and provide diagnostic information to the public in the first half of next year. Currently, KADIS is fully equipped (100%) at 160 units in 60 Authority inspection centers, and in the private sector, 612 places (32.3%) have it.

An official from the Authority said, "We allow the private sector to use the KADIS program for a monthly subscription fee of 25,000 KRW," adding, "We have advanced the inspection techniques to collect vehicle data within 30 seconds."

When KADIS was connected to a vehicle, the monitor displayed real-time diagnostic results such as "Motor Control - Normal Operation," "Slow Charger - Normal Operation," and "Charging Control Module - Fault." The Authority has made it possible to conduct inspections even in dynamic states and developed integrated insulation resistance inspection equipment using the electric vehicle charging port. Equipment for precise battery measurement before removal is also being developed.

The Korean-style driving simulator inspection equipment (KADAS) for autonomous vehicle safety also attracted attention. The "X-Road Curve," which includes vehicle steering, emergency braking functions, and automatic length adjustment according to vehicle wheelbase (distance between front and rear wheels), was applied for the first time in Asia. Autonomous vehicles on the X-Road Curve are inspected through a front monitor to check if functions work well in situations such as approaching the vehicle ahead or deviating from the direction.

Riding directly in an autonomous vehicle under inspection, a warning sound first sounded in a virtual situation where the vehicle approached the one ahead, and the vehicle was immediately pushed backward. The sudden bouncing movement was startling but also a sign that the system was working well. It is reported that such inspection equipment exists only in Korea and Germany. An Authority official said, "The two countries are closely cooperating to standardize internationally and advance inspection functions," adding, "It is expected to present a paradigm shift in inspections by enabling various types of inspections."

The autonomous vehicle is being inspected under a scenario of approaching the car ahead using the Korean-style driving simulator inspection equipment (KADAS) applied with the 'X-Road Curve.' / Video by Kyungjo Noh

Meanwhile, next to the center, a 600 kW-class automatic charging system for parking towers capable of charging eight electric vehicles simultaneously was being constructed at the scale of a building. Development and demonstration research will be conducted until March 2026. On the lower floor of this building, a space is being created to cool electric vehicles that have caught fire by placing them in a water tank. This measure is to prevent occasional re-ignition due to the characteristic of electric vehicles, where it takes a long time for the battery to be completely burned.

Jung Yong-sik, Chairman of the Authority, said, "The Authority is making great efforts to ensure the safety of electric vehicles at the manufacturing and operation stages and is also working hard to expand inspection infrastructure," adding, "As a comprehensive mobility safety institution, we will achieve innovation in public transportation services that the public can feel."