It may have taken its time, but the electric car boom is now upon us. At 6.75 million, global electric vehicle registrations more than doubled in 2021 from the previous year (a 108% increase). EVs accounted for 8.3% of all vehicle registrations, which was also almost twice as high as in the previous year. In Germany in 2021, one in four new cars was a hybrid or electric vehicle.
— DEKRA is using its broad wealth of expert knowledge to help shape the safe transition to the age of e-mobility. Whether working with plug connections, cables, or drive batteries, DEKRA inspects their electrical and functional safety as well as the electromagnetic compatibility of individual components and systems. And complete vehicle models are also put through their paces (homologation and type testing) before being brought to market.
Finally, as a testing laboratory and charging station certifier, DEKRA plays an important role in establishing reliable charging infrastructure. This includes innovative plug-and-charge technology that makes the charging process easier and faster.
But DEKRA does not only have EV drivers’ safety in mind. As a longstanding partner of the auto industry, DEKRA also sees itself as having a responsibility here – inspecting and maintaining electric vehicles requires new and highly specific knowledge. DEKRA has expanded its qualifications accordingly; for example, in the area of high-voltage technology.
— And last but by no means least, as part of its sustainability strategy, DEKRA is committed to ensuring that resources are used for as long as possible once they have been deployed. Applying this to the EV context, for a well-functioning used car market to emerge, buyers must be able to reliably assess the condition of the drive battery. A cross-manufacturer and cross-model process from DEKRA is currently being piloted in Germany.
In another instance of sustainability becoming a reality, drive batteries that are no longer suitable for use in vehicles but still have around 80% capacity can go on to have a “second life” as energy storage devices outside of vehicles. Plus, DEKRA is involved in a research project that aims to establish key findings for a future circular economy in the mobility sector.
