Overview
ISO 21498-2:2021 - "Electrically propelled road vehicles - Electrical specifications and tests for voltage class B systems and components - Part 2: Electrical tests for components" - defines test methods, test conditions and test requirements for components connected to voltage class B DC systems in electrically propelled road vehicles. The document applies to electric propulsion and auxiliary systems, focusing on the behavior at the DC voltage class B terminals of components (as specified in ISO 21498-1). It describes how to perform electrical tests caused by operation of electric loads and power sources. Note: electrical safety is outside its scope (see ISO 6469, ISO 17409).
Key topics and technical requirements
ISO 21498-2 outlines structured electrical testing and documentation requirements for components used in high-voltage vehicle systems. Major topics include:
- General test parameters: test setup, voltages, powers, temperatures, times/durations, tolerances and ambient conditions.
- Measurement and monitoring: sampling rates, measured value resolution and parameter monitoring requirements.
- Interface and wiring: wiring harness considerations and interface descriptions for repeatable test setups.
- Dynamic electrical behaviors:
- Generated voltage slope and immunity to voltage slope
- Generated voltage ripple and immunity to voltage ripple
- Voltage offset, overvoltage and undervoltage conditions
- Generated load dump voltage and immunity to load dump
- Test artifacts and annexes: informative annexes for test overviews, temperature testing, example values and a normative artificial network for reproducible testing.
The standard specifies test procedures and pass/fail requirements for components under realistic DC voltage disturbances encountered in electric vehicles.
Applications and who uses it
ISO 21498-2 is intended for organizations involved in the design, manufacture, validation and procurement of components for electrically propelled road vehicles:
- Automotive OEMs and system integrators specifying component electrical performance
- HV component manufacturers (inverters, converters, sensors, actuators, auxiliary units)
- Test laboratories and R&D teams conducting component qualification and validation
- Suppliers preparing product data and compliance evidence for vehicle platforms
- Procurement and quality engineers creating supplier test requirements and acceptance criteria
Practical uses include component qualification, robustness verification against voltage transients, interoperability across voltage sub-classes, and reducing design variants by standardizing electrical behaviour requirements.
Related standards
- ISO 21498-1 (voltage class B definitions and terminal characteristics)
- ISO 6469, ISO 17409 (electrical safety for electrically propelled vehicles)
Keywords: ISO 21498-2, electrical tests for components, voltage class B, electrically propelled road vehicles, DC voltage tests, load dump, voltage ripple, overvoltage, undervoltage, automotive HV testing.