European and American market access requirements for light electric vehicles,
Electric Vehicles,

▍What is KC?

Since 25^th Aug., 2008，Korea Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) announced that the National Standard Committee will conduct a new national unified certification mark — named KC mark replacing Korean Certification during the time between Jul. 2009 and Dec. 2010. Electrical Appliances safety certification scheme (KC Certification) is a mandatory and self-regulatory safety confirmation scheme according to Electrical Appliances Safety Control Act, a scheme which certified safety of manufacture and sale. 

The difference between mandatory certification and self-regulatory (voluntary) safety confirmation：

For the safe management of electrical appliances, KC certification is divided into mandatory and self-regulatory  (voluntary) safety certifications as the classification of danger of  product.The subjects of Mandatory certification is applied to electrical appliances which its structures and methods of application may cause serious dangerous results or obstacle such as fire, electric shock. While the subjects of self-regulatory (voluntary) safety certification is applied to electrical appliances which its structures and methods of application can hardly causes serious dangerous results or obstacle such as fire, electric shock. And the danger and obstacle can be prevented by testing the electrical appliances.

▍Who can apply for KC certification：

All legal persons or individuals both at home and abroad who are engaged in manufacturing, assembly, processing of electrical appliance.

▍Scheme and method of safety certification：

Apply for KC certification with product’s model that can be divided into basic model and series model.

In order to clarify model type and design of electrical appliances, an unique product name will be given according to its different function.

▍ KC certification for Lithium battery

1.  KC certification standard for lithium battery：KC62133:2019
2. Product scope of KC certification for lithium battery

A. Secondary lithium batteries for use in portable application or removable devices

B. Cell is not subject to KC certificate whether for sale or assembled in batteries.

C. For batteries used in energy storage device or UPS (uninterruptible power supply), and their power which is greater than 500Wh are beyond the scope.

D. Battery whose volume energy density is lower than 400Wh/L comes into certification scope since 1^st, Apr. 2016.  

▍Why MCM?

● MCM keeps a close cooperation with Korean labs, such as KTR (Korea Testing & Research Institute) and is able to offer the best solutions with high cost performance and Value-added service to clients from the point of lead time, testing process, certification cost.

● KC certification for rechargeable lithium battery can be gained by submitting a CB certificate and convert it into KC certificate. As a CBTL under TÜV Rheinland, MCM can offer reports and certificates which can be applied for conversion of KC certificate directly. And the lead time can be shortened if applying CB and KC at the same time. What’s more, the related price will be more favorable.

Light electric vehicles (electric bicycles and other mopeds) are clearly defined in federal regulations in the United States as consumer goods, with a maximum power of 750 W and a maximum speed of 32.2 km/h. Vehicles that exceed this specification are road vehicles and are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). All consumer goods, such as toys, home appliances, power banks, light vehicles and other products are regulated by the Consumers Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The increased regulation of light electric vehicles and their batteries in North America stems from the CPSC’s major safety bulletin to the industry on December 20, 2022, which reported at least 208 light electric vehicle fires in 39 states from 2021 to the end of 2022, resulting in a total of 19 deaths. If light vehicles and their batteries meet the corresponding UL standards, the risk of death and injury will be greatly reduced.
New York City was the first to respond to CPSC requirements, making it mandatory for light vehicles and their batteries to meet UL standards last year. Both New York and California have draft bills awaiting release. The federal government also approved H.R.1797, which seeks to incorporate safety requirements for light vehicles and their batteries into federal regulations. Here’s a breakdown of state, city and federal laws:
New York City Law 39 of 2023
Sales of light mobile devices are subject to UL 2849 or UL 2272 certification from an accredited testing laboratory.
Sales of batteries for light mobile devices are subject to UL 2271 certification from an accredited testing laboratory.