• In line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's accession to the World Trade Organization according to Council of Ministers Decision No. 244 dated 21/9/1426H, regarding the approval of the Kingdom's accession documents to the World Trade Organization, and the obligation of the Kingdom to align its related systems with the principles of the organization's agreements; especially the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) which stipulates that unnecessary technical requirements should not be imposed on the flow of goods between member countries, and that there should be no discrimination between products of different origins in terms of technical requirements and conformity assessment methods, through the issuance of technical regulations that include legitimate basic requirements and unify work procedures.

• Based on Article Three (Paragraph - 1) of the Organization of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization issued by Council of Ministers Decision No. 216 dated 17/6/1431H, corresponding to 31/5/2010, whereby the organization is responsible for "issuing Saudi standard specifications, regulations, quality guides, and conformity assessment that comply with international standards and guidelines, meet the requirements of the World Trade Organization Agreement in this field, and are compatible with Islamic Sharia and serve the interests of the Kingdom".

• According to Article Four (Paragraph - 2) of the Organization of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization issued by Council of Ministers Decision No. 216 dated 17/6/1431H, corresponding to 31/5/2010, whereby the organization is responsible for issuing regulations for the conformity assessment of goods, products, and services according to the standard specifications it adopts.

• Based on Article Four (Paragraph - 14) of the Organization of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization issued by Council of Ministers Decision No. 216 dated 17/6/1431H, corresponding to 31/5/2010, whereby the organization is responsible for "reviewing the regulatory systems and regulations related to the fields of the organization's work, developing them, and proposing necessary amendments to keep pace with quality and safety requirements, and referring them to the competent authorities for study and issuance according to legal procedures".

• According to Article Six (Paragraph - 1) of the Organization of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization issued by Council of Ministers Decision No. 216 dated 17/6/1431H, corresponding to 31/5/2010, whereby the organization is responsible for "considering what is stated in Article Four of this organization, the organization is the reference in the Kingdom for everything related to standard specifications, conformity assessment procedures, and granting quality marks and measurement and calibration. All government and private sectors must comply with Saudi standard specifications in all their purchases".

• Whereas the standard specifications for products covered in one of the regulations are considered the basis for the conformity of those products to the basic safety requirements in the specified regulation.

• The organization has prepared this technical regulation.

• Note: This introduction and all appendices to this regulation are an integral part of it.

• 1/1 The terms and phrases below - when applying the provisions of this Regulation - shall have the meanings indicated next to them, unless the context of the text requires otherwise:

  • The Kingdom: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

  • The Authority: The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.

  • The Council: The Board of Directors of the Authority.

  • Regulatory Authorities: The governmental authority/authorities with regulatory tasks according to their jurisdiction and responsible for implementing or monitoring the implementation of technical regulations, whether at customs points, markets, or factories.

  • Technical Regulation: An approved document from the Board of Directors that sets the characteristics of products and the processes associated with them and their production methods, including the applicable administrative provisions that must be adhered to. It may specifically include or address terms, definitions, packaging, and requirements for labeling or marking products, services, processes, or production methods.

  • Standard Specification: An approved document from the Board of Directors; it sets - for regular and repeated use - the rules, instructions, or characteristics for related products or processes and production methods; its application is optional, and it may specifically include or address terms, definitions, packaging, and requirements for labeling or marking applicable to products, services, processes, or production methods. 

  • Essential Requirements: The requirements specific to products that may affect safety, health, and the environment; which must be adhered to.

  • Market Survey Authorities: The governmental authority/authorities responsible for conducting market surveys.

  • Market Survey: The activities and measures taken by the Market Survey Authorities to verify that products meet the requirements stipulated in the relevant technical regulations and that they do not pose a risk to health, safety, and the environment, or any other aspect related to protecting the public interest.

  • Hazard: A potential source of danger.

  • Risk(s): The likelihood of a hazard causing harm; related to the severity of the harm.

  • Supplier: Refers to the following:

    • - The manufacturer of the product, if located in the Kingdom, or any person who presents themselves as the manufacturer of the product by naming the product with their name or any relevant trade description, as well as any person who offers to renew the product.

    • - The manufacturer's agent in the Kingdom if the manufacturer is located outside the Kingdom, or the importer in the absence of an agent for the manufacturer in the Kingdom.

    • - Any person in the supply chain whose activity may affect the characteristics of the product.

  • Conformity Assessment Procedures: An approved document from the Board of Directors that clarifies the procedure used directly or indirectly to assess conformity.

  • Accepted Entities: Entities for conformity assessment that have been accepted by the Authority according to the Regulation for Accepting Conformity Assessment Entities. 

  • Certificate of Conformity: The certificate issued by the Authority or one of the accepted entities; which confirms that the product or any batch of it complies with the requirements of the relevant standard specifications.

  • Supplier's Declaration of Conformity: A declaration from the supplier themselves that their product complies with the applicable legislative requirements, without any mandatory intervention from a third party - neither at the design stage nor at the production stage of the manufacturing process - and the declaration may rely on conducting tests on the product according to the relevant legislation.

  • Registration Certificate: A certificate granted by the Authority according to the registration procedures followed, pertaining to each unit of electric vehicles, after obtaining the Certificate of Conformity, according to the required conformity assessment procedures stated in this Regulation.

  • Market Status: The status of the product in the Kingdom's market, which is the responsibility of either the manufacturer or the importer. 

  • Market Offering: Any supply of the product for distribution, consumption, or use in the Kingdom within a commercial activity, whether for monetary compensation or without compensation.

  • Withdrawal: Any action aimed at preventing products from being offered in the market and in the supply chain.

  • Recall: Any action aimed at retrieving products that have been provided to the end user, according to the recall regulation.

  • Product: The electric vehicle, also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, consisting of one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion. Electric vehicles can be battery electric vehicles (BEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).

  • Manufacturer: The entity responsible for the technical aspects of manufacturing the vehicle and its parts.

  • Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV): Refers to the battery electric vehicle (BEV), or the vehicle that operates solely on battery power, or the fully electric vehicle, which is a type of electric vehicle (EV) that uses chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs. Battery electric vehicles use electric motors and motor controllers instead of internal combustion engines (ICEs) for propulsion.

  • Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV): A hybrid vehicle that contains an internal combustion engine in addition to an electric motor that can be recharged by connecting it to an external power source, as well as by its internal engine and generator. The extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) is a subclass of PHEVs where the electric motor is used for propulsion, and the internal combustion engine is used to provide additional electrical power when needed.

  • Direct Contact: The contact of persons with live parts of high voltage.

  • Conductive Connection: Refers to the connection using connectors to an external power source while charging the rechargeable electric energy storage system (REESS).

  • Electrical Chassis: Refers to a set of conductive parts electrically connected to each other with their voltage considered as a reference.

  • External Electric Power Supply: Refers to an electric power source operating on alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) outside the vehicle.

  • Live Parts: Refers to the part or parts intended to be electrically operated under normal operating conditions.

  • Service Disconnect: Refers to the device used to disconnect the electrical circuit during inspections and maintenance of the rechargeable electric energy storage system (REESS).

  • Electrical Circuit: Refers to an assembly of live parts connected to each other, designed to be powered with electricity during normal operation.

  • Passenger Compartment: The space designated for accommodating passengers, bounded by the roof, floor, side walls, doors, window glass, front wall, rear wall, or rear gate, in addition to barriers and enclosures that protect passengers from continuous contact with high voltage live parts.

  • Enclosure: Refers to the part that surrounds the internal units and provides protection against any direct contact.

  • Supply Chain: All stages that the product goes through after manufacturing until it reaches the consumer, including its packaging and wrapping, or supplying, transporting, storing, delivering, or selling it wholesale or retail, and any other related process.

  • Rechargeable Electric Energy Storage System (REESS): The system responsible for supplying the vehicle with electric power.

  • Electric Power Train: The electrical circuit that includes one or more traction motors. It may include the rechargeable electric energy storage system (REESS), the electric power conversion system, electronic converters, and the associated wiring and connectors, as well as the coupling system for charging the REESS.

  • Electric Vehicle Charging System: A system of components that supplies the vehicle with direct current (D.C output) for the purpose of recharging the batteries of electric vehicles. 

  • Electrical Protection Barrier: Refers to the part that provides protection against direct contact with high voltage live parts.

  • Protection Degree (IPXXB): Refers to protection against contact with high voltage live parts by the electrical protection barrier or enclosure. It is tested using a jointed test finger (IPXXB).

  • Protection Degree (IPXXD): Refers to protection against contact with high voltage live parts by the electrical protection or enclosure. It is tested using a test wire (IPXXD).

  • Indirect Contact: Refers to the contact of persons with exposed conductive parts.

  • High Voltage: Refers to the voltage that indicates the classification of the electrical component or electrical circuit when its operating voltage exceeds 60 volts and reaches 1500 volts direct current or exceeds 30 volts and reaches 1000 volts alternating current (root mean square).

  • Specific Voltage Condition: Defined as the condition in which the maximum voltage of the galvanically connected electrical circuit between the direct part of direct current and any other live part does not exceed 30 volts alternating current (root mean square) and 60 volts direct current. This condition applies in circuits where the voltage between any two parts does not exceed 30 volts alternating current and 60 volts direct current. 

  • Note: When a live part connected to direct current from such an electrical circuit is connected to the chassis and the specific voltage condition applies, the maximum voltage between any part connected to the current and the electrical chassis is less than or equal to 30 volts alternating current and 60 volts direct current (root mean square).

  • Electric Vehicle Connector: A device that creates an electrical connection with the electric vehicle by being inserted into the electric vehicle's charging inlet to supply it with electric power from an external power source.

  • Electric Vehicle Coupler: The connection of the electric vehicle's charging inlet with its connector cable in the electric vehicle.

  • Electric Vehicle Inlet: A device on the electric vehicle, into which the electric vehicle connector is inserted for the purpose of transferring electric power from an external power source...

  • Category M: Motor vehicles with at least four wheels, designed and manufactured for the transport of passengers. It includes the following categories:

  •  Category M1: Vehicles designed and constructed for the transport of passengers with no more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat. 

  • Category M2: Vehicles designed and manufactured for the transport of passengers, consisting of more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, with a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tons but not exceeding 5 tons. 

  • Category M3: Vehicles designed and manufactured for the transport of passengers, consisting of more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, with a maximum mass exceeding 5 tons.

  • Category N: Motor vehicles with at least four wheels, designed and manufactured for the transport of goods.

  • Category N1: Vehicles designed and manufactured for the transport of goods with a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tons. 

  • Category N2: Vehicles designed and manufactured for the transport of goods with a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tons but not exceeding 12 tons. 

  • Category N3: Vehicles designed and manufactured for the transport of goods with a maximum mass exceeding 12 tons.

  • ​​Electric Vehicle Storage Battery: A battery consisting of one or more rechargeable electrochemical cells, which has no means of relieving excess pressure during normal charging and operation, or of adding water or electrolyte, or for external measurements of the specific gravity of the electrolyte.

  • Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment: Equipment consisting of connectors, including grounded and ungrounded connectors, electric vehicle connectors, attached plugs, and all other devices and equipment, power outlets, or vehicle devices designated for the purpose of transferring power to the electric vehicle.

  • Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment System: Components supplying electric power in the form of alternating current (AC) to the charger located inside the vehicle. 

  • Personnel Protection System: A system composed of means to protect individuals against electric shocks.

  • Grounded Connectors: Connectors connected to the vehicle body to discharge electric charge.

• 2/1 The words and phrases contained in this Regulation shall have the meanings stated in the laws, regulations, and decisions applicable in the Authority.

This Regulation applies to electric vehicles of categories M and N that exceed a design speed of 25 km/h, in accordance with the definitions and terms contained in Article (1) and the standard specifications included in Appurtenance (1). 

The purpose of this Regulation is to define the essential requirements for electric vehicles covered by this Regulation, and the conformity assessment procedures that suppliers must adhere to, in order to ensure that these products meet the essential requirements aimed at preserving the environment and the health and safety of consumers and road users, and to facilitate market surveillance procedures.

• The supplier must comply with the following requirements:

  • 1/4 Technical Requirements

  • To meet the requirements of this regulation, the supplier must fulfill the essential characteristics of electric vehicles, as follows:

    •  1/1/4 The electric vehicles - supplied by the supplier - must meet the technical requirements specified in the standard specifications outlined in Appendix (1) of this regulation, and in the absence of Saudi or Gulf standard specifications, they must then comply with international standard specifications.

    • 2/1/4 The electric vehicles supplied must pass the conformity assessment procedures outlined in this regulation and must be accompanied by a technical file that includes all documents and information proving the product's compliance with the requirements of this regulation.

    • Deleted.

    • Deleted.

    • 4/1/4 A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the battery must be attached with the electric vehicle.

  • 2/4 Basic Requirements

  • To meet the requirements of this regulation, the supplier must fulfill the basic requirements for electric vehicles outlined in Appendix (2) of this regulation.

  • 3/4 Metrological (Standard) Requirements

  • International System Units (SI) or their multiples or parts must be used during design, manufacturing, or trading.

  • 3/4 Administrative Requirements

  • The electric vehicles must comply with the provisions of the Traffic Law and its executive regulation applicable in the Kingdom.

  • The electric vehicles must at least comply with one of the connectors of the electric charging systems referred to in Appendix No. (3).

• 1/5 The supplier responsible for placing electric vehicles subject to this Regulation in the market must obtain a Certificate of Conformity (Type 1a) issued by the Authority or by an entity authorized by it in accordance with the General Regulation for Conformity Models issued by the Authority.

• 3/5 A technical file must be attached to the product that includes the following:

  • A) The supplier's (manufacturer/importer) declaration of conformity according to the attached model in Appurtenance (4)

  • B) Risk assessment document.

  • C) Designs and drawings that prove the product's conformity to the requirements of this Regulation.

  • D) Necessary warnings and alerts, and operating and usage instructions for the product in a safe and sound manner.

• The regulatory authorities, as part of their jurisdiction and powers, shall do the following:

  • A- Verify that electric vehicles subject to this Regulation meet the specified conformity assessment procedures and the accompanying technical documents with the shipments.

  • B- The regulatory authorities have the right to randomly withdraw samples from electric vehicles and refer them to specialized laboratories to ensure their compliance with the requirements stated in this technical Regulation.

  • C- The regulatory authorities have the right to charge suppliers (manufacturers and importers) the costs of conducting tests and related matters.

  • D- In the event of a non-compliance issue with the product, the regulatory authority shall withdraw the concerned products and take legal action against them.

  • E- Traffic departments shall verify the registration documents of electric vehicles and check their driving licenses while they are on public roads, in accordance with the applicable traffic laws and procedures.

  • F- Licensing authorities shall issue driving licenses for electric vehicles after ensuring their compliance with the requirements of this Regulation, and the licenses shall be renewed after confirming their safety during the periodic inspection, in accordance with the applicable laws and procedures in the Kingdom.

• Market Surveillance Authorities, as a part of their competences, shall carry out the following:

  • 7/1 Enforce the market surveillance procedures to the products in markets and the products stored in warehouses, in order to check the safety of the product and the extent of fulfilment of the requirements stipulated in this Technical Regulation and relevant standards.

  • 7/2 Withdraw samples of the product, whether from the market or warehouses of suppliers (manufacturers and importers), in order to conduct the necessary tests and to verify the conformity of such products with the requirements set out in this Technical Regulation.

  • 7/3 In case of non-conformity of- displayed or stored - products with the requirements of this Technical Regulation, Market Surveillance Authorities shall take all administrative actions for such products. Procedures and penalties - stipulated in Article (8) shall be applied after taking the necessary actions.

• 1/8 The manufacture, import, placement, and display of products that do not comply with the provisions of this Regulation, or even advertising them, is prohibited.

• 2/8 The failure of a product to meet the requirements of this Regulation is considered sufficient grounds for market surveillance authorities and regulatory bodies to determine that this product is non-compliant, as it may pose a risk to consumer health and safety and to the environment, in the following cases:

  • A) The non-issuance of a certificate of conformity or the supplier's declaration of conformity, or their incorrect issuance.

  • B) The unavailability or incompleteness of technical documents (the technical file of the product, declaration of conformity ...), or their containing incomplete or incorrect information.

  • C) Deleted.

• 3/8 Upon detecting any violation of the provisions of this Regulation, the market surveillance authorities - as applicable - shall take all necessary measures to remove the violation and its effects from the market, and for this purpose, they may take the following actions:

  • A) Assign the violating entity - responsible for placing and displaying the non-compliant product - to withdraw it from warehouses or the market for the purpose of correcting the violation, if possible, or to export it, within the timeframe specified by the market surveillance authorities.

  • B) Withdraw or seize the products, or take any other action to recall them from the markets, and the market surveillance authorities - as applicable - shall announce the recall of the product from the markets, charging the violating entity all associated costs.

  • C) Handle the non-compliant products covered by this Regulation in accordance with the provisions set forth by the applicable laws and regulations of the regulatory authorities of the market surveillance.

• 4/8 Upon detecting a violation concerning products subject to this technical Regulation, the authority shall take the necessary actions against these products that violate the requirements of this technical Regulation, including the cancellation of the related certificate of conformity, and taking the necessary measures with the accepted entity - issuer of the certificate - in accordance with the Regulation for the Acceptance of Conformity Assessment Bodies. Upon detecting a violation concerning products subject to this technical Regulation, the authority shall take the necessary actions against these products that violate the requirements of this technical Regulation, including the cancellation of the related certificate of conformity, and taking the necessary measures with the accepted entity - issuer of the certificate - in accordance with the Regulation for the Acceptance of Conformity Assessment Bodies.

• 5/8 Without prejudice to any harsher penalties under the applicable laws, anyone who violates the requirements of the approved standard specifications for products covered by this technical Regulation shall be punished with the penalties stipulated in the Anti-Fraud Law.

• A- The supplier bears full legal responsibility for implementing the requirements of this Regulation, and the penalties stipulated by the Law on Combating Commercial Fraud and/or any other related laws shall apply to them if a violation of any article of this Regulation is proven.

• B- This Regulation does not prevent the supplier from complying with all other applicable laws/regulations in the Kingdom related to the trading, transportation, and storage of electric vehicles, as well as the laws/regulations related to the environment, security, health, and safety.

• C- All suppliers of electric vehicles subject to the provisions of this Regulation must provide inspectors from regulatory authorities and market survey authorities with all facilities and information they request to carry out their assigned tasks.

• D- If any situation arises that cannot be addressed under the provisions of this Regulation, or if any dispute arises in its application, the matter shall be referred to a specialized committee in the authority to consider this case and issue the appropriate decision regarding the dispute, in a manner that serves the public interest.

• E- The supplier may submit a new request after the reasons for rejecting the initial conformity assessment request have been resolved, after making the necessary corrections for the reasons that led to the rejection, and paying any additional costs that may be determined by the authority.

• F- The authority shall study the complaints received regarding products that have obtained a conformity certificate, verify the validity of these complaints, and take legal action in the event of any proven violations.

• G- The authority has the right to revoke the conformity certificate if the supplier violates the provisions of this Regulation and to take legal actions that ensure the protection of the authority's rights.

• H- If any modifications are made to the electric vehicle during the validity period of the conformity certificate or registration certificate (except for cosmetic modifications that do not affect the results and safety performance of the vehicle as determined by the authority), the certificate or the supplier's declaration becomes void for this product. A new application must be submitted, and the supplier must notify the authority as the issuer of the registration certificate when making any modifications to the vehicle.
  I- Only the authority has the right to interpret the articles of this Regulation, and all beneficiaries of the application of this Regulation must comply with the interpretations issued by the authority.