October 2025 in Review: Key Automotive and Road Vehicles Standards Published

Looking back at October 2025, the Automotive and Road Vehicles sector (ICS 43) continued its momentum in delivering critical standards that address evolving technological, safety, and interoperability demands. Three major standards were published during this month, each tackling frontier challenges in electric vehicle infrastructure, active safety benchmarking, and next-generation vehicle communication. For industry professionals seeking to remain strategically aligned with global compliance and engineering best practices, this overview offers an analytical synthesis of October’s standardization output, highlights major themes, and provides guidance for implementation priorities.

Monthly Overview: October 2025

October 2025 was notable for its focus on the convergence of electrification, automation, and interoperability within road vehicle engineering. The standards released this month collectively reflect the sector’s response to several emergent trends:

• The rapid scaling and complexity of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, epitomized by battery swap systems and robust grid interfaces
• Heightened regulatory attention to functional and mechanical safety, especially in systems supporting driver assistance and active safety
• The maturing of industry-wide communication protocols to streamline interoperability between vehicles, infrastructure, and test devices

Compared to preceding months, October’s publications featured updated revision cycles, expanded safety and conformance criteria, and direct alignment with international best practices. This batch of standards signals a strategic shift toward more granular validation and cross-system compatibility, foreshadowing where regulatory attention and engineering investment will likely intensify in the coming years.

Standards Published This Month

EN IEC 62840-2:2025 – Electric Vehicle Battery Swap System – Part 2: Safety Requirements

Electric vehicle battery swap system - Part 2: Safety requirements

The second edition of EN IEC 62840-2:2025 delivers a comprehensive overhaul of the safety requirements for battery swap systems (BSS) used in electric vehicles, reflecting significant changes since the 2016 edition. The updated scope now explicitly covers both swappable battery systems (SBS) and handheld swappable battery systems (HBS), and strengthens critical facets such as interoperability, electrical safety, data security, and mechanical robustness.

Scope and Key Requirements:

• Defines safety, security, and EMC requirements for battery swap systems interfacing with supply networks up to 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC
• Applies to both stationary systems and those powered by on-site energy storage (e.g., buffer batteries)
• Specifies protections against electric shock, mechanical, and environmental hazards
• Does not cover maintenance/service of battery swap stations, trolley buses, or vehicles primarily designed for off-road use

Notable Features and Advancements:

• Strict interoperability: System interface specifications and charging state protocols reduce risk and promote integration between diverse BSS/HBS providers
• Enhanced electrical safety, with stricter capacitor discharge times to mitigate residual voltage shock
• Robust security: Safety-centric communication protocols, specified telecom requirements, and increased focus on cybersecurity
• Mechanical alignment: Automated handling systems now referenced to relevant ISO machinery safety standards (ISO 10218-1/2)
• Advanced EMC and functional safety, with requirements addressing both operational and emergency scenarios

Target Groups:

• EV charging network operators; automotive OEMs; suppliers of battery swap technologies; infrastructure planners; compliance auditors; robotics and automation integrators

This standard anchors the regulatory narrative for safe and scalable battery swap infrastructures—a key enabler for rapid EV adoption, commercial fleets, and public transport electrification.

Key highlights:

• Expanded scope includes both SBS and HBS systems
• Interoperability and communication protocol robustness elevated
• Stricter health, safety, and EMC requirements mapped to latest hazard scenarios

Access the full standard:View EN IEC 62840-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO/TS 19206-7:2025 – Road Vehicles – Test Devices for Target Vehicles, Vulnerable Road Users and Other Objects, for Assessment of Active Safety Functions – Part 7: Test Method for Target Carrier System Behaviour

Road vehicles – Test devices for target vehicles, vulnerable road users and other objects, for assessment of active safety functions – Part 7: Test method for target carrier system behaviour

As advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and active safety mechanisms become core to automotive safety and automation, standardized validation of the supporting test devices has grown mission-critical. ISO/TS 19206-7:2025 offers normative test methods to assess the dynamic behaviour and accuracy of target carrier systems used in the evaluation of vehicle active safety functions.

Scope and Key Requirements:

• Outlines methods for testing target carrier systems—platforms that propel or support road user surrogates (cars, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, etc.) used in ADAS function assessment
• Validates carrier performance for speed, yaw rate, and lateral deviation under defined test protocols/tolerances
• Specifies detailed test procedures for various combinations: 3D/2D vehicle targets, adult/child pedestrian surrogates, cyclists, scooters, and powered two-wheelers
• Incorporates environment controls (surface quality, wind, temperature) to ensure test validity
• Does not address target detection performance (sensor calibration), which is covered in other parts of the ISO 19206 series

Notable Features and Advancements:

• Detailed validation regimes for straight-line, braking, turning, and lane-change maneuvers at multiple speeds and decelerations
• Strict tolerancing (e.g., ±0.1 km/h speed, ±0.01–0.15 m lateral deviation depending on test)
• Procedures consider real-world variables such as wind influence and road surface class (aligning with ISO 8608)
• Tabular result formats and reporting templates for traceability and repeatability

Target Groups:

• ADAS developers, NCAP and regulatory test labs, automotive safety auditors, sensor and target supplier engineers

In practice, this standard establishes the essential reliability and repeatability benchmarks for testing the active safety systems that underpin the future of automated driving.

Key highlights:

• Bridges critical gap between ADAS system requirements and validation of testing hardware
• Supports reproducibility and traceability required by international test bodies
• Lays groundwork for harmonized, objective safety performance assessment

Access the full standard:View ISO/TS 19206-7:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 15118-21:2025 – Road Vehicles – Vehicle to Grid Communication Interface – Part 21: Common 2nd Generation Network Layer and Application Layer Requirements Conformance Test Plan (ISO 15118-21:2025)

Road vehicles – Vehicle to grid communication interface – Part 21: Common 2nd generation network layer and application layer requirements conformance test plan (ISO 15118-21:2025)

EN ISO 15118-21:2025 marks a major step forward in formalizing communication protocol conformance testing for next-generation vehicle-grid integration. Built on the ISO 15118 series (with a focus on Part 20's 2nd generation protocol), this edition specifies a rigorous abstract test suite (ATS) for verifying electric vehicle communication controllers (EVCC) and supply-equipment communication controllers (SECC).

Scope and Key Requirements:

• Encompasses conformance tests for all network and application layer requirements in ISO 15118-20, regardless of charging type (AC, DC, automatic conductive, or wireless power transfer)
• Abstract test cases cover both static (capability) and dynamic (behaviour) conformance requirements
• Addresses layers 3–7 of the ISO/OSI reference model
• Specifies test architecture, test case identification, and verdict assignment
• References external standards (IETF, W3C) only where critical for conformance
• Excludes performance, robustness, or reliability assessments—focuses solely on protocol and functional correctness

Notable Features and Advancements:

• Creates a harmonized basis for downstream interoperability certification
• Facilitates transparent, reproducible verification—essential for grid-scale roll-out of EV services, smart charging, and bidirectional energy flows (V2G)
• Integrates with IS/IEC certification and black-box certification lab methodology
• Directly aligns with the latest functional layering in vehicle-to-grid communications (ISO 15118-20), assuring futureproofing for smart grid services

Target Groups:

• Automotive OEMs, EVSE and communication equipment suppliers, test laboratories, grid operators, EV software engineers

As the AES/EV ecosystem expands, correct and secure implementation of communication protocols helps reduce interoperability risk, accelerates deployments, and supports regulatory and utility requirements for grid integration and smart charging.

Key highlights:

• Formalizes conformance testing for ISO 15118-20-enabled products (AC, DC, ACD, WPT charging)
• Focus on protocol behaviour and capabilities across the network and application layers
• Lays a standardized bedrock for future smart mobility and grid-connected vehicle ecosystems

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 15118-21:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

1. Electrification and Interoperability: Across all three standards, the adoption of electrified vehicle systems is matched by a drive toward secure, interoperable, and scalable infrastructure. October’s standards highlight:

• Sophisticated safety and performance regimes for battery swap and charging systems
• The necessity of communication protocol conformance to underpin large-scale deployments and enable true vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration
• Expanded focus on system security and EM safety in response to growing cyber-physical complexity

2. Functional and Mechanical Safety: Automation, mechanical transfer, and dynamic test rigs are increasingly central to safety system validation. Machine safety principles, functional safety, and advanced electromagnetic compatibility demand renewed attention—especially as systems interact in open, public environments.

3. Validation and Traceability: With ISO/TS 19206-7:2025 and EN ISO 15118-21:2025, both product and process validation move to center stage. Granular test methods, tabular result structures, and formalized verdict criteria enable international consistency and regulatory confidence.

4. Harmonization and International Alignment: References to ISO/IEC standards, cross-series dependencies (e.g., to ISO 10218, ISO 15118-20), and the explicit adoption of European Directives reflect the sector’s drive toward global best practice harmonization.

5. Support for Emerging Mobility Ecosystems: Battery swap systems, robust communication, and scenario-based active safety validation are foundational for the growth of shared mobility, fleet electrification, and ultimately, automated transportation networks.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For Organizations Impacted:

• Battery swap system operators and manufacturers must review the technical revisions introduced in EN IEC 62840-2:2025, perform compliance gap analysis (especially regarding electrical safety, interoperability, and mechanical requirements), and update deployment protocols where necessary.
• ADAS developers and test labs should align active safety assessment programs with ISO/TS 19206-7:2025, integrating the specified validation procedures and reporting formats to ensure reproducibility and international acceptance.
• OEMs and infrastructure suppliers introducing 2nd generation V2G communications must leverage the ATS in EN ISO 15118-21:2025 to demonstrate protocol conformance, facilitating certification, market access, and customer confidence.

Implementation Priorities:

1. Update internal compliance checklists to reflect the latest scope and definitions
2. Establish training for engineering and safety teams focused on the new/updated protocols and safety regimes
3. Coordinate with supply chain and partners to assure system-level compatibility and traceability
4. For certification: plan ahead for multi-stage compliance (especially where significant interoperability or functional safety upgrades are required)

Timeline Considerations:

• Standards take effect upon publication but may have national adoption/transition deadlines; review your region’s implementation calendar
• Monitor closely for updates in referenced documents (e.g., pending editions of ISO 15118-20, IEC 62840-1, or associated EMC standards)

Resources:

• Access detailed standards documentation via direct iTeh Standards links provided above
• Engage professional networks and technical committees to stay current on best practices and interpretations

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from October 2025

October 2025’s standards publications denote a significant period of transition and maturation for the Automotive and Road Vehicles sector. The weighted emphasis on safety, interoperability, and functional validation—within electric vehicle infrastructure, communication interfaces, and testing methodologies—highlights the sector’s evolution toward digitalized, automated, and sustainable mobility systems.

For professionals in the field:

• Prioritize review and implementation of EN IEC 62840-2:2025 for safe and compliant battery swap deployments
• Adopt ISO/TS 19206-7:2025 validation procedures in all ADAS, NCAP, and regulatory test workflows
• Utilize EN ISO 15118-21:2025’s conformance suite to streamline certification and support next-generation V2G ecosystem rollouts

Staying abreast of these developments ensures organizational resilience, competitive advantage, and alignment with both current and upcoming regulatory expectations. Explore the full text and further resources on iTeh Standards to integrate these advances into your practice and drive compliant, innovative automotive engineering forward.