Thailand plans mandatory safety standards for EV batteries

Thailand plans to make safety standards compulsory for electric vehicle batteries, introducing requirements for their manufacture, import and sale as the government seeks to strengthen consumer confidence in the sector.

The proposed rules would require safeguards against overcharging, overheating and short circuits. Deputy government spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatana outlined the measures on 23 October, according to a Xinhua report carried by Bernama.

The measures are set out in a draft ministerial regulation. They would take effect 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, rather than from the date of the announcement.

Which batteries would be covered?

The standard covers non-lead-acid rechargeable batteries used in battery-electric passenger and goods vehicles with at least four wheels. Its stated scope is therefore defined by both battery type and vehicle category, rather than applying broadly to every battery-powered form of transport.

Protection against overcharging, overheating and short circuits forms the core of the safety requirements described in the announcement. The government presented the proposed controls as part of an effort to develop the quality of Thailand’s EV industry alongside its production capacity and sales.

Licensing requirements for businesses

Under the draft, manufacturers and importers would need licences under Thailand’s Industrial Product Standards Act. Retailers would be permitted to sell only batteries that are licensed and comply with the standard.

For businesses in the covered battery supply chain, the practical preparations identified by the government are product compliance, testing and licensing. Lalida advised companies to monitor the regulation’s progress and prepare for those requirements.

The proposed 180-day lead-in is tied to Royal Gazette publication. That distinction matters for manufacturers, importers and sellers planning compliance: the announcement describes a forthcoming obligation under a draft regulation, not a requirement already in force.

End-of-life tracking remains under study

Separately, the Ministry of Industry has been asked to study ways of tracking batteries after their service life ends. Lalida said that proposal remains under consideration and is not yet a take-back programme or mandatory recycling scheme.

The government’s stated aim is to build consumer confidence and strengthen the competitiveness of Thailand’s EV industry while supporting environmental care. For now, the concrete proposal concerns safety and licensing before batteries reach the market; arrangements for tracking them at the end of their useful life remain a separate matter under study.