1 CCR 301-25-19.0 - Electric Drive High Voltage Specs (EV)

19.1 An electric-powered school transportation vehicle shall meet all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and all SAE standards that are applicable at the time of manufacture.
19.2 EV-Specific Labeling
19.02(a) Each door, cover, or other panels that afford immediate access to any high voltage area shall be plainly marked with a hazard warning label which shall read WARNING-HIGH VOLTAGE or DANGER - HIGH VOLTAGE. This label shall be in a highly conspicuous place. All high-voltage access areas shall be equipped with a lock or otherwise secured to prevent unauthorized access.
19.02(b) An EV identifying label shall be affixed to the right rear corner of the bus body. An additional label shall be applied to the right side of the bus rear of the entrance door and to the left side of the bus in front of the driver's window.
19.3 EV High Voltage Drive System Batteries
19.03(a) EV High Voltage Batteries shall not be in or accessible from the interior of the school bus.
19.03(b) Energy storage for the EV High Voltage Drive System shall be protected from crash impacts and shall be encased in a non-conductive, acid-resistant compartment. This compartment shall be well-ventilated to preclude the possibility of hydrogen gas buildup. Energy storage shall be in an area and in such a way as to provide ease of service.
19.03(c) EV High Voltage Batteries shall require automatic electrical isolation in the case of a vehicle crash.
19.03(d) EV High Voltage-Powered Vehicles: Buses utilizing a high voltage propulsion system (more than 48 nominal volts) shall meet the requirements of FMVSS 305, Electric Powered Vehicles: Electrolyte Spillage and Electrical Shock Protection, except for the following:
19.03(d)(1) The propulsion power source (batteries, fuel cells, etc.) shall be located outside the passenger compartment.
19.03(d)(2) The propulsion power source enclosure shall be constructed to conform to the power source manufacturer's requirements and recommendations.
19.03(d)(3) Due to the much larger size and quantities of the propulsion power sources on larger vehicles, buses over 10,000 lbs. are permitted to exceed the 5.0-liter spillage. Electrolyte damage from propulsion batteries and the requirements to statically rotate the vehicle on its longitudinal access post-test.
19.4 EV High Voltage Wiring Standards and Protection
19.04(a) Wire, cable, and conductor insulation in the High Voltage System shall provide adequate insulation for the voltage used and for ambient temperatures ranging from -15 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. All high voltage circuits shall be bright orange in color or otherwise labeled as HIGH VOLTAGE. All high-voltage circuits shall provide adequate and automatic protection against electrical overloads caused by short circuits or other excessive current conditions through the use of fuses, circuit breakers, and ground fault interruption.
19.04(b) The EV Drive System shall have a system for protecting system components from thermal damage due to electrical overload. This system shall include temperature sensors at critical points and be capable of reducing EV Drive System electrical power when necessary.
19.04(c) The EV High Voltage System shall be designed so that when the ignition switch is off or in accessory mode, the propulsion motor is positively disconnected. All other accessories powered by the main propulsion battery circuit shall remain operable when the ignition switch is in accessory mode.
19.04(d) All buses shall be equipped with an additional manual and automatic switch or device independent of the propulsion motor disconnect controls that permit the positive disconnection of all circuits from the Drive System Batteries. This switch shall be operable from outside the vehicle. Each door or panel providing access to this switch shall be plainly marked to indicate that it is a main-power-disconnect switch or device.
19.04(e) The ignition switch circuit shall be linked to the Battery Management System and shall prevent driving the vehicle while it is connected to an external battery charging source.
19.04(f) The charging connection point shall be outside the passenger compartment.
19.04(g) The High Voltage System shall be designed to prevent the passenger compartment from becoming energized.
19.04(h) Battery packs shall be cooled and heated as necessary to maintain proper operating temperatures.
19.5 EV Instrumentation
19.05(a) In addition to the required gauges, the instrument display panel must also contain an indication showing the state of charge (power and/ or range).
19.05(b) The instrument display panel shall have a warning light that indicates when an EV drive system component exceeds a safe temperature. The warning light should illuminate prior to critical temperature to allow sufficient time to safely stop the bus.
19.05(c) The instrument display panel shall have a warning light that indicates when an EV Drive System has a mechanical or electrical fault.
19.6 EV Range
19.06(a) All electric school buses shall have an OEM design that is capable of operating with a range of 100 miles or more on a current charge.
19.7 Sound Generation
19.07(a) All electric school buses shall comply with FMVSS 141 producing sound while in motion below 20 mph.
19.8 Propulsion System
19.08(a) The propulsion system on all-electric school buses shall be of sufficient power to propel the vehicle fully loaded up to 65 mph.
19.08(b) The propulsion system may be mounted utilizing a normal drivetrain or positioned in a way to provide direct power to the wheels. All propulsion systems must be contained below the floor line and cannot come into contact with the road surface.
19.9 Brakes
19.09(a) On electric school buses, brakes may produce regenerated power.
19.09(b) Park brake testing procedure:
19.09(b)(1) Allow the brake system air pressure to build to at least 100 psi.
19.09(b)(2) Place the drive selector of the vehicle in low gear, release the parking brake, and drive the vehicle forward to a speed of three (3) to five (5) mph.
19.09(b)(3) While in motion place the vehicle in neutral and engage the parking brake and the vehicle should stop.
19.10 Passenger Heating System
19.10(a) On electric school buses the heating system must be capable of meeting performance and design standards without a fuel-fired heater. See Section
19.10(b) Heating systems that are independent of other cooling system functions may forgo the use of manual shutoff valves to the passenger compartment as long as the flow of coolant can be stopped by means of a heating system shut down or an electric heater control valve.

Notes

1 CCR 301-25-19.0
38 CR 07, April 10, 2015, effective 4/30/2015 46 CR 14, July 25, 2023, effective 8/14/2023 47 CR 19, October 10, 2024, effective 10/30/2024

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