Pilot Study on Electric Vehicle Inspection Technologies
to Begin in June at Korea Transportation Safety Authority
The Korea Transportation Safety Authority announced on the 6th that it will begin a demonstration study on prototype battery inspection equipment at the Haeundae Inspection Center starting this June.
The Authority has been conducting research and development since 2023 to evaluate the safety of electric vehicles and to promote related technology development. This is to gradually develop periodic inspection technologies and equipment that reflect the characteristics of electric vehicles. Since current inspection equipment and technologies were established for internal combustion engines, there have been ongoing calls for separate equipment and technologies tailored for electric vehicles, which have different drive systems.
The equipment to be demonstrated this time includes battery inspection equipment, automatic insulation resistance inspection equipment, and low-noise vehicle warning sound generation inspection equipment. The battery inspection equipment utilizes a diagnostic device developed in-house by the Authority. Previously, inspections were conducted while the vehicle was stationary, but now it is possible to check safety aspects such as voltage between battery cells by simulating real driving conditions using a chassis dynamometer. It can also inspect performance, which is considered an indicator of battery health.
Electric vehicle automatic charging system at a public parking lot in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
The automatic insulation resistance inspection equipment is designed to inspect the insulation resistance of vehicle charging ports. The previously manual inspection method has been improved to an automatic one. By the end of this year, adapters for each type of electric vehicle charging port will be developed. The low-noise vehicle warning sound generation inspection equipment applies technology that allows measurement considering external environmental noise at the inspection center, replacing the past method that relied solely on inspectors' hearing.
By June, a dedicated inspection lane will be established at the Authority’s Haeundae Inspection Center. The three types of developed equipment are intended to enhance field applicability. Jeong Yong-sik, Director of the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, stated, "We will complete the step-by-step development of electric vehicle-specific inspection technologies to continuously ensure the safety of eco-friendly vehicles."
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