Electric car approval - what's worth knowing?

The approval of an electric car is an official task that many drivers have to perform. Fortunately, this task is not difficult. However, before applying for homologation, it is worth knowing what documents you need to collect beforehand. You will find a list of these, as well as a description of what car approval entails, in this text.

Approval of an electric car - what does it involve?

The electric car approval is one of the documents certifying that a vehicle can be used in a given country. It applies to all motorised categories of vehicles on public roads - cars, motorbikes and mopeds. Agricultural vehicles are also included in this list.

As in the case of internal combustion vehicles and motorcycles, the electric vehicle should comply with the standards set out in the regulations issued by the institutions of the European Union and the European Economic Commission. These, in turn, are in line with the requirements applicable in Poland.

Those interested in purchasing a zero-emission car should note that this does not apply to all cars. Electric vehicle homologation applies to new means of transport. In the case of used cars, it is necessary when a combustion car has been converted to electric. The document confirming the approval of the vehicle is issued by the director of the Transport Technical Supervision.

How is the approval of electric vehicles carried out?

The approval of an electric vehicle aims to verify the basic technical parameters of the vehicle. Like cars with internal combustion engines, they fall into the M1 category. The parts list is checked and the number of the electric motor in the vehicle is written down. In the case of electric cars, the batteries, their capacity and the charging socket are also assessed.

In addition to this, the make and model of the vehicle, the country in which it was manufactured and the date it came off the production line are entered in the approval document. It is also necessary to enter the protocol number and have it signed by an authorised person.

Other documents are also required to register a vehicle. These include proof of purchase (contract, invoice or court ruling), registration certificate, vehicle card, type-approval document, certificate of passing a technical inspection and third-party liability insurance. In the case of cars imported from abroad, the submission of proof of payment of excise duty (in the case of cars from Europe) or customs duty (this applies to cars from outside the EU) is also decisive for the admission to drive.

How long does it take for electric cars to be approved?

A certificate of approval for an electric car is usually issued after one month. As it is only issued for new vehicles, it is a document with no expiry date. However, there are two exceptions.

A car's homologation can be cancelled if significant interference with the vehicle's technical condition is detected during the inspection. The approval must also be renewed if a combustion car has been converted to electric.

The approval of an electric car is a process that is not difficult. For vehicles bought from a showroom, there is nothing to fear. The onus is on the manufacturer to make it roadworthy. It is different if the combustion car has been modified. Here too, however, there is no need to worry. Experienced mechanics will certainly know how to modify a car to get it approved.