CITA Rec. No. 27: “Electric Vehicles: Comprehensive Approach”
CITA is proud to announce the publication of its Recommendation No. 27: Electric Vehicles Inspection – A Comprehensive Approach, a milestone document providing an in-depth framework for the Periodic Technical Inspectionof electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
This document offers an urgently needed and harmonized response to the emerging safety, environmental, and operational challenges posed by EVs across their entire lifecycle.
Developed by the CITA Electric Vehicles Task Force, this paper outlines the technical characteristics that distinguish EVs—such as high-voltage components, battery systems, regenerative braking, and unique software elements—and presents a tailored methodology for their inspection.
It proposes:
- New inspection categories specific to EVs
- Detailed defect severity classifications
- Practical test methods for assessing safety-critical systems (e.g., isolation resistance, AVAS functionality, equipotential bonding)
- Forward-thinking recommendations on data access, software integrity checks, and battery health assessment
Crucially, Recommendation No. 27 emphasizes the need to prepare PTI regimes for aging EVs, ensuring these vehicles remain safe, reliable, and environmentally compliant as they move through second-hand markets and extended use cycles.
While existing EU and international frameworks—such as Directive 2014/45/EU and UNECE Regulation No. 100—provide a legal foundation for vehicle inspection and safety, they do not yet fully account for the specific risks and configurations of electric vehicles. This recommendation fills that gap with actionable technical guidance, and calls for:
- Regulatory adaptations to support EV-specific inspections
- Standardized access to diagnostic data, fault codes, and battery software
- Greater harmonization in inspection procedures across Member States
Recommendation No. 27 is the product of extensive collaboration, research, and expertise from a wide range of CITA Members. We express our sincere appreciation to all colleagues of the Electric Vehicles Task Force for their valuable contributions:
- Víctor Salvachúa – APPLUS+ (Task Force Leader)
- Frederick Adler – TÜV NORD
- Pascal Buekenhoudt – GOCA VLAANDEREN
- Alejandro Checa – CITA
- Visar Çekiçi – Albanian General Directorate of Road Transport
- Luis Gallego – ITEVELESA
- Manuel Hagemann – TÜV NORD
- Raphael Lazar – KÜS
- Leif Magne Halvorsen – NPRA
- Nina Kornsteiner – AVL DiTEST
- Dirk Meissner – FSD
- Andreas Richter – DEKRA
- Jesus Raul Ramos – APPLUS+
- Georges Petelet – CAPELEC
- Tom Polman – RDW
- Ralph Schröder – FSD
- Frank Schouten – Midtronics
This recommendation reaffirms CITA’s commitment to supporting the safe, sustainable, and equitable evolution of mobility. As the EV fleet grows, so must our ability to inspect, maintain, and regulate these vehicles with rigor and consistency.
Recommendation No. 27 is a key step toward future-ready PTI systems that protect users, support innovation, and foster public trust in electric mobility.