UL Solutions expands certification services for electric vehicles

Applied safety science company UL Solutions Inc. announced expanded battery-powered vehicle certification services to meet the evolving safety risks of roadworthy electric motorcycles and scooters, and industrial vehicles, reflecting UL Solutions’ commitment to enabling safer innovation while supporting public safety.

Battery-powered vehicles like these are proliferating around the world as part of the global energy transition megatrend. This includes the industrial electric vehicle (EV) market, which is valued at $3.4 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $17.33 billion by 2033, according to a recent report.

These new services will test whether vehicle electrical systems meet the requirements of UL 2850, the Outline of Investigation for Vehicle Systems of Electric Scooters and Motorcycles, or UL 2701, the Outline of Investigation for Electrical Systems for Construction, Agriculture and Mining (CAM) Vehicles. A UL Outline of Investigation (OOI) is a preliminary set of certification requirements created by UL Solutions to evaluate new or emerging products for which a more formal UL Standard does not yet exist. Products that have been tested by UL Solutions and successfully demonstrated compliance with an OOI can receive a UL Mark, signifying that they meet safety requirements.

“The launch of certification services for UL 2850 and UL 2701 marks a pivotal step in advancing vehicle safety across both urban mobility and industrial operations,” says Wesley Kwok, vice president and general manager of the Energy and Industrial Automation group at UL Solutions. “By addressing the unique safety challenges of battery-powered scooters, motorcycles, and heavy-duty construction, agriculture and mining vehicles, we’re helping manufacturers meet evolving regulatory requirements and accelerate the transition to safer, cleaner transportation – on the road and on the job site.”

As communities worldwide confront the rise in lithium-ion battery fires linked to micromobility devices, UL 2850 provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating the safety of electric motorcycles and scooters designed for public roads. These vehicles use a throttle and do not have pedals, unlike electric bicycles, and typically require a license and registration to operate on roads.

The standard addresses several key safety aspects, including battery management systems and thermal runaway risks, which is when the lithium-ion cell enters an uncontrollable self-heating state that can produce fire, smoke, and extremely high temperatures while ejecting harmful particulates. The evaluations also include tests for critical safety circuits used to help power these vehicles; functional safety; component reliability; and electrical, mechanical, and environmental testing that emulates real-world weather conditions.

With increasing demand for zero-emission machinery and stricter emissions on job sites, UL 2701 offers a safety certification pathway for electric construction, agriculture, and mining vehicles by testing lithium-based battery systems, drivetrain components, and risk mitigation for fire and electric shock and explosion.

UL Solutions’ state-of-the-art battery testing laboratories, including the recently opened North America Advanced Battery Laboratory in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and its laboratory in Changzhou, China, will support UL 2850 and UL 2701 testing with engineers from its facilities in Northbrook, Illinois; Fremont, California; and Suzhou, China. UL Solutions can also offer these services for manufacturers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) through collaborations with partner laboratories.