Electric vehicle safety rules now apply to heavy trucks and their batteries

US regulators updated electric vehicle safety rules, replacing an old standard. The new rules apply to both light and heavy vehicles, and they include specific performance requirements for the main battery.

For years, safety rules for electric vehicles focused mainly on passenger cars and preventing electrical shock. This update means heavy electric trucks and their large propulsion batteries now have specific safety standards. It also requires manufacturers to provide emergency responders with standardized information, which could speed up response times for accidents involving these vehicles.