"Korean Government Establishes Standards for 

 Interchangeable Electric Two-Wheeler Battery Packs to Ensure Interoperability" 

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) has announced the establishment of a new standard, KS R 6100, for interchangeable battery packs for electric two-wheelers. The standard, which ensures that battery packs can be exchanged regardless of the manufacturer, is expected to be proposed as an international standard to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

The standard includes general requirements (voltage, size, weight, capacity), connectors for charging and discharging, communication protocols, and safety and durability test methods. The standardization process, which began in 2020, involved consultations with small and medium-sized manufacturers, users, and related ministries to ensure interoperability between two-wheelers, exchangeable batteries, and charging stations.

Specifically, the battery voltage has been standardized to 48V and 72V, and the size, weight, and capacity have been standardized to accommodate a typical driving range of 40-50km. The communication protocol between electric two-wheelers and charging stations has been defined as the CAN communication method.

With the compatibility of battery packs for domestically developed electric two-wheelers secured, the related market is expected to expand as charging and discharging can be performed regardless of the manufacturer. The industry and government have agreed to cooperate and communicate to establish standards in the domestic market while promoting market expansion and competitiveness.

KATS plans to propose the unique standard for exchangeable batteries for electric two-wheelers as an IEC international standard in the future. Sang-hoon Lee, the head of KATS, emphasized that as the distribution of electric two-wheelers expands, battery standardization is emerging as a core element of the competitiveness of electric two-wheelers. He added that they will support the strengthening of global competitiveness of electric two-wheelers by proposing standards related to exchangeable battery packs based on the KS standard as international standards.