UK Government may bring in bespoke EV MOT

Department for Transport considers adapting testing following European Commission proposals on EV and ADAS safety

UK Government may bring in bespoke EV MOT
Photo: Bigstock

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has indicated it will review potential changes to the MOT test following new rules proposed by the European Commission (EC) aimed at improving safety standards for electric vehicles and modern driver assistance systems.

The EC has announced a package of proposed changes to overhaul road safety rules concerning the periodic technical inspection (PTI) of vehicles, which is the equivalent of the UK’s annual MOT test. The EC states that current regulations, largely aligned with MOT requirements due to the UK’s previous EU membership, are outdated and “no longer sufficient to keep up with the rapid progress in vehicle technology.”

In response to the technological advancements in new vehicles, the EC is proposing the introduction of specific periodic inspections for electric cars, as well as new tests for electronic driver safety systems (ADAS). According to a Commission statement, existing testing methods have not adapted to the advancements and increasing use of technologies such as ADAS and electric vehicles.

Key elements of the proposed new PTI regime in Europe include adaptations to annual/periodic tests to ensure their suitability for EVs, and the monitoring of the ongoing effectiveness of driver assistance systems through software integrity testing. The EC also intends to enhance the scope and effectiveness of emissions testing and improve the PTI’s ability to detect tampered vehicle software.

Here in the UK, the Department for Transport stated that it “continually reviews the MoT system in Great Britain to ensure road safety and environmental standards are maintained. Any proposals for the European Union will be reviewed.”

Source: Auto Express

2 Comments

  1. No test fee increase since 2010 and now I see the testing scheme having to invest in yet more equipment that will have to be used to detect this “Software” cheat for emissions purposes, that is unless DVSA foot the bill and provide it free to ALL VTSs

    Reply
  2. I echo the comments from the previous post, when DVSA won’t increase the test fee or make the full price mandatory, any new requirements to the MOT are just going to end up adding to costs, with more hoops for the VTS to jump through, more expensive equipment that will undoubtedly require calibrating every 6 or 12 months and unless it’s a separate EV Test, is going to add time to the MOT test meaning less tests per working day.
    Whilst I don’t have a problem with an EV test per se, this is not something that can just be introduced under the current format with the expectation that VTS’s will just adapt.
    Another consideration is whilst the current MOT annual assessment includes questions on EV’s, if a separate EV test is introduced, will the DVSA expect all NT’s to undertake external training, demo test, create another test class, a separate annual assessment?
    This has the potential to turn into a nightmare especially for small independents.

    Reply

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