Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, New and Renewable Energy Prahlad Joshi laid the foundation stone for a new Electric Vehicle testing facility of the National Test House in Regional Reference Standard Laboratory campus in Bengaluru today. The new lab, to be ready in eight months, will be equipped with advanced battery testing equipment, capable of performing a wide range of tests including electronic safety, functional safety, climate test, UV radiation corrosion, material test and durability test among others.

The facility will help the EV manufacturing industry to meet stringent quality standards before reaching the consumers. Addressing the officers on this occasion the minister informed that the National Test House is conducting quality tests for our bullet train, metro train, Jal Jeevan Mission and the Central Vista project. It is authorised to issue the International Organisation of Legal Metrology or OIML certificate.

The capability to issue internationally recognised certification highlights India’s growing capabilities in precision measurement and standardisation. It is the only Government agency that provides drone certification in India. The Minister however added that the quality testing market in India is 500 crore rupees and the share of the National Test House is just 30 crore rupees. Hence he urged upon the National Test House to increase their share to 100 crore rupees in three years.