I do wonder where the kit car scene would be today without membership of the the EU?
I suspect there would be less rules and any rules that were deemed necessary would be put in place to safe guard the planet or it's occupants.
When I ask VOSA (DVSA) why certain IVA rules are in place they nearly always come back with just 2 letters, E and U.
IVA is generally seen as a good thing, controlling what could otherwise result in anything safe or not on our roads.
However certain new rules just slipped in without warning effectively deem EV kit cars a thing of the past. The reason is that very costly testing is now required for what is known as RESS (rechargeable energy storage systems). This is a real shame as it an area where kit car manufacturers are well positioned to supply lightweight vehicles in the niche EV market. Obviously safety measures need to be in place to protect from electric shock and fire but I am told all individual vehicles will now need tests which will cost around £6k before an IVA test application will be registered. No warning, just a kick in the delicates.

Tow bars on kit cars are also a thing of the past as they now have to be laboratory tested (stretched) and E marked as part of the kit car chassis which is to say the least, cost prohibitive. Last week you could bolt a universal E marked tow ball to your chassis, not this week though!
The goalposts just keep moving. I have the deepest sympathy for anyone building an EV right now. If anyone needs any help on the new ruling please let me know on info@mevltd.co.uk

What next, any more EU car related rules about to be thrown at us? Who knows?

I receive enquiries every week from other EU members Countries but it is virtually impossible to build your own kit outside of the UK, many bring them back here to test and register but they appear to be tightening up on that now from our recent discoveries. So Brussels make rules for our kits but don't allow our kits on their turf.
The problem we face now is that even if we all vote OUT I wonder if the rules be relaxed any time soon?


[Edited on 20/5/16 by stig mills]

I think the other way of looking at is, if we do stay in the EU how long will it be before building/radically modifying anything for use on the road won't be possible any more. Bit by bit that day is coming...

Would the rules be relaxed if we do leave...probably not but at least at the moment we can still make/modify things ourselves if they're done right.

Ian

I seem to recall that in Germany,you cant change any part of your car unless that part is TUV tested and you have the car inspected afterwards.
some of our contental brothers have had huge problems getting cars registered....so much for a level playing field.

The IVA and the SVA that preceded it were created in the uk by the uk legislators. The EU only mandated the european wide whole vehicle type approval and instructed member states to put in place a process for one off and low volume for vehicles like fire engines, ambulances etc as it was considered these vehicles would be based in those jurisdictions. Our government to their credit exploited this loophole to allow for amateur built vehicles.
As for EV I will check with our hybrid and ev vehicle guys but I wouldn't have thought that applies to lead/acid batteries as almost every car has one.
Some hybrid systems work at high voltages and have capacitor storage together with modern lightweight battery technology (some batteries like lithium polymer are somewhat prone to auto combustion as is hydrogen) The regulations here will probably sort themselves out and settle down as it is typical for legislation to be put in place first then adapted to suit what is workable.
Please also be careful not to fall into the old trap as the Brittish government likes to point the finger of blame at the EU when often the unpopular legislation originated here. its easy for them to hide behind the EU as they know most people don't follow what goes on in the european parliment - most brits don't even know who there MEP is :
The european road worthiness directive is a case in point - The EU basically adopted 'our' MOT (which now applies europe wide) yet we've been given to believe its been imposed upon us.

That is not good news, I understand the need for at least some safety testing of batteries, as some electric cars do use very high, potentially lethal voltages and also certain batteries can go bang (cheap Chinese LiPo for example) but to suddenly have to pay about £6k for testing is taking the biscuit. Thankfully it looks like my build is not affected as I will be registering it via MSVA and not IVA and it looks like MSVA is not affected yet, but I am going to get the build completed and registered ASAP, as I don't want to find it's suddenly been added to MSVA too!. Thank god I was not half way though building a heavy 4 wheel electric car!
I could understand perhaps requiring battery packs to be UN38.3 certified which is a fairly standard test to make sure batteries don't go bang when they are overcharged, shorted or crushed and batteries can be bought which are already certified.
I am surprised and rather angry that there was no grace period for these new rules like there was a grace period for using BS 857 marked windscreens. Also there seems to be very little info around on exactly what testing is needed, for example, is it destructive, in which case you need to add the cost of however many batteries are required for the test on top of the £6k?

quote:

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Originally posted by stig mills
I do wonder where the kit car scene would be today without membership of the the EU?
I suspect there would be less rules and any rules that were deemed necessary would be put in place to safe guard the planet or it's occupants.
When I ask VOSA (DVSA) why certain IVA rules are in place they nearly always come back with just 2 letters, E and U.
IVA is generally seen as a good thing, controlling what could otherwise result in anything safe or not on our roads.
However certain new rules just slipped in without warning effectively deem EV kit cars a thing of the past. The reason is that very costly testing is now required for what is known as RESS (rechargeable energy storage systems). This is a real shame as it an area where kit car manufacturers are well positioned to supply lightweight vehicles in the niche EV market. Obviously safety measures need to be in place to protect from electric shock and fire but I am told all individual vehicles will now need tests which will cost around £6k before an IVA test application will be registered. No warning, just a kick in the delicates.

Tow bars on kit cars are also a thing of the past as they now have to be laboratory tested (stretched) and E marked as part of the kit car chassis which is to say the least, cost prohibitive. Last week you could bolt a universal E marked tow ball to your chassis, not this week though!
The goalposts just keep moving. I have the deepest sympathy for anyone building an EV right now. If anyone needs any help on the new ruling please let me know on info@mevltd.co.uk

What next, any more EU car related rules about to be thrown at us? Who knows?

I receive enquiries every week from other EU members Countries but it is virtually impossible to build your own kit outside of the UK, many bring them back here to test and register but they appear to be tightening up on that now from our recent discoveries. So Brussels make rules for our kits but don't allow our kits on their turf.
The problem we face now is that even if we all vote OUT I wonder if the rules be relaxed any time soon?


[Edited on 20/5/16 by stig mills]

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Ok, so we have voted for a BREXIT, any idea when this stupid law will be tossed in the trash where it belongs? While we are at it, it would be nice to bin off the IVA and go back to the old SVA.
I wanna build my dream car, which at the moment looks unlikely if I need to spend 6k on testing, of which I can't seem to find any information on what exactly is tested, the requirements of my car and how it's tested (I.E. is it destructive?).

[Edited on 24/6/16 by leew2]

new rules now held off until Nov 1st

Where can copies of these rules be found? Please?

quote:

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Originally posted by Neville Jones
Where can copies of these rules be found? Please?

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quote:

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Originally posted by leew2
Ok, so we have voted for a BREXIT, any idea when this stupid law will be tossed in the trash where it belongs? While we are at it, it would be nice to bin off the IVA and go back to the old SVA.
I wanna build my dream car, which at the moment looks unlikely if I need to spend 6k on testing, of which I can't seem to find any information on what exactly is tested, the requirements of my car and how it's tested (I.E. is it destructive?).

[Edited on 24/6/16 by leew2]

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email from DVSA below;

Government Security Classification - OFFICIAL

Thank you for your continued correspondence, without prejudice to the previous communications you've received I'd like to provide you with the following which will also be communicated to our engineers & technical support staff.

Today I have agreed with DfT a stay of implementation for Reg 100 within IVA, in part by pressing the industries’ case. Therefore, DVSA & DfT can guarantee that this legislation will not take effect in IVA before 1 November 2016. However, you should continue to make plans to obtain a suitable test report by 1 November 2016 as vehicles submitted after this date may be required to demonstrate full compliance as part of the application evidence.

DVSA propose to leave the N1 manual unchanged & to update the M1 manual imminently. This will allow stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the impending requirements ahead of implementation.

Notwithstanding all of the above our engineers will continue to make necessary & suitable assessments under the general construction section to ensure that any systems are safe, secure & installed without interference to other components under the requirements of IVA.

Product Specialist (Specialist Vehicle Tests and Approvals)
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Phone: +44 (0) 300 123 9000
cid:_4_08E772F808E7708C0042C1CF80257FA4

Read more: http://mevowners.proboards.com/thread/2788/jack-dads-build-rocket#ixzz4DWlbc654

Firstly, all these rules for cars are from ECE, a division of United Nations, which makes rules for cars used worldwide, and referred to as ECE. *** rule numbers. EU/EC has little to do with the rule formations as such, as the rules are formulated by a world based forum of 'Technical Experts'.

After a talk with a very nice gentleman at VOSA, I finally got a web address for the rules that are about to be implemented for electric cars.

http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/doc/2010/wp29/ECE-TRANS-WP29-2010-52e.pdf

That should get you all the info you need.

And the estimated costs of tests from MIRA are ~£8k per car!!!! If all are identical, then the cost is once.

Cheers,
Nev.

quote:

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Originally posted by Neville Jones
Firstly, all these rules for cars are from ECE, a division of United Nations, which makes rules for cars used worldwide, and referred to as ECE. *** rule numbers. EU/EC has little to do with the rule formations as such, as the rules are formulated by a world based forum of 'Technical Experts'.

After a talk with a very nice gentleman at VOSA, I finally got a web address for the rules that are about to be implemented for electric cars.

http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/doc/2010/wp29/ECE-TRANS-WP29-2010-52e.pdf

That should get you all the info you need.

And the estimated costs of tests from MIRA are ~£8k per car!!!! If all are identical, then the cost is once.

Cheers,
Nev.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by stig mills

quote:

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Originally posted by Neville Jones
Firstly, all these rules for cars are from ECE, a division of United Nations, which makes rules for cars used worldwide, and referred to as ECE. *** rule numbers. EU/EC has little to do with the rule formations as such, as the rules are formulated by a world based forum of 'Technical Experts'.

After a talk with a very nice gentleman at VOSA, I finally got a web address for the rules that are about to be implemented for electric cars.

http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/doc/2010/wp29/ECE-TRANS-WP29-2010-52e.pdf

That should get you all the info you need.

And the estimated costs of tests from MIRA are ~£8k per car!!!! If all are identical, then the cost is once.

Cheers,
Nev.

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NOT APPLICABLE UNTIL NOV 1st

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