The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Minister Park Sang-woo) announced that starting Monday, February 17, under the revised “Automobile Management Act” (amended in August 2023, effective February 2025), the government will directly certify electric vehicle battery safety and implement a battery history management system that tracks batteries throughout their entire lifecycle from production to disposal by assigning identification numbers to individual batteries.
Last September, the government announced the “Electric Vehicle Fire Safety Management Plan,” previewing institutional reforms to strengthen battery safety. After conducting pilot projects, full implementation begins this month. This measure aims to enhance battery reliability and strengthen consumer protection amid ongoing safety concerns regarding electric vehicle fires.
Battery Safety Certification System: Direct Government Verification
Currently, electric vehicle batteries operate under a self-certification system where manufacturers certify safety independently. However, going forward, separate battery safety certification will be required, with the government directly verifying safety before issuing certification.
Accordingly, electric vehicle manufacturers can only sell vehicles equipped with batteries that have received safety certification. The certification process includes 12 rigorous tests, including △thermal shock testing △combustion testing △overheating prevention testing, and batteries that fail these tests will receive correction orders.
The Ministry stated, “The introduction of the battery safety certification system represents the biggest change in 20 years since the implementation of the automobile self-certification system in 2003,” explaining that “it is significant in that the government secures the safety of new technology in advance and shares risk burden with the industry.”
Introduction of Battery History Management System… Tracking Entire Process Until Disposal
The government is also introducing a battery history management system to further enhance battery safety. This system systematically manages the entire history of batteries from manufacturing to operation and disposal by assigning identification numbers to individual batteries and registering them in the vehicle registration records.
Through this system, the government can track maintenance and inspection records of batteries during electric vehicle operation and enable quick cause analysis in case of fires or other accidents. When batteries are replaced, the identification number of the new battery must be registered, and in cases of replacement due to recalls, it will be automatically registered through linkage with the vehicle defect information system.
The Ministry plans to complete the battery lifecycle history management system by 2027 and promote the activation of the used battery industry based on this. Once battery performance evaluation and history management are established, it is expected to strengthen the battery circular economy system that reuses and recycles electric vehicle batteries.
Electric Vehicle Safety, Building Trust is Key… Active Government Support
Kim Hong-mok, Director of the Mobility Automobile Bureau at the Ministry, emphasized, “The expansion of electric vehicles is an irreversible trend, and securing battery safety is essential for public safety and strengthening the competitiveness of the automotive industry,” adding, “We will steadily implement related measures to build trust in electric vehicle safety.”
With enhanced safety and management systems for electric vehicle batteries, consumers are expected to be able to purchase and operate electric vehicles with greater confidence. Meanwhile, these government measures are expected to have a significant impact on the automotive industry. Companies will need to verify battery performance more thoroughly, and the burden of technological development and quality control is expected to increase as they must undergo government certification procedures.
As the electric vehicle market continues to grow, it is once again emphasized that cooperation between the government and industry is essential to secure battery safety and sustainability.