Underwriters Laboratories Joins Electric Drive Transportation Association

NORTHBROOK, Ill., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a world leader in safety testing and certification, became a member of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), the preeminent industry association dedicated to advancing electric drive as a core technology on the road to sustainable mobility.  UL continues to lead the effort within the industry to promote safety for electric drive vehicles (EDVs) and related infrastructure by developing new testing methodologies that are subsequently reflected in the safety and performance standards developed by UL.  This membership in EDTA helps UL to join the unified voice of leading and emerging vehicle, battery and component manufacturers, as well as electricity providers, smart grid and infrastructure developers, and others advancing transportation enabled by electricity.

The accelerated development of the EDVs industry is going to have a significant and positive effect on the North American and global economies and the environment.  It is estimated by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory that if 73% of the nation's light duty vehicles were fueled by electricity, the U.S. could displace 6.2 million barrels of oil a day, about 52% of current oil imports.  In addition to increasing our energy security, the growth of electric drive transportation sector will also create green jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness in advanced energy technology markets.

"EDTA welcomes our new member UL, an organization with over 116 years of expertise in developing new safety standards for new technologies. Because of this history, UL can provide a unique contribution to our efforts to reduce market hurdles for electric drive vehicles and infrastructure, expand manufacturing capacities, establish coherent regulatory policies, accelerate technological breakthroughs and increase consumer acceptance," said EDTA's President Brian Wynne.

UL has already developed new standards for the electric drive batteries and infrastructure components. UL tests and certifies electric drive vehicle charging stations and off-board chargers for both private and commercial use, which are important to the widespread adoption of grid connected electric drive vehicles.  "Electric drive transportation will have tremendous benefits for the global economy and worldwide carbon footprint. Ensuring the safety of these new technologies is critical to commercial scale adoption and consumer acceptance," said Gary Savin, UL's Vice President and General Manager for Global Power and Controls business. "We invest heavily in R&D of new testing methodologies, development of new standards and building global partnerships to accelerate the advancement of safe electric drive vehicles on the road."

UL has also recently joined The EV Project as a sole certifier of the charging stations that will be built in major metropolitan areas in the U.S.  It has also been providing its technical expertise to support Project Get Ready, an initiative to aid U.S. cities preparing for widespread adoption and use of electric vehicles (EVs) in their communities.  To learn more about UL's involvement in the electric drive vehicle industry, please visit the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure section on UL.com.

About Underwriters Laboratories

UL is an independent product safety certification organization that has been testing products and writing Standards for Safety for more than a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems from more than 66,000 manufacturers each year. In total, there are more than 20 billion UL Marks appearing on products worldwide. UL's global family of companies and network of service providers includes 68 laboratory, testing and certification facilities serving customers in 102 countries. For more information, visit: http://www.ul.com/newsroom.

About Electric Drive Transportation Association

Founded in 1989, EDTA is the preeminent industry association dedicated to advancing electric drive as a core technology on the road to sustainable mobility.  As an advocate for the adoption of electric drive technologies, EDTA serves as the unified voice for the industry and is the primary source of information and education related to electric drive. Our membership includes a diverse representation of vehicle and equipment manufacturers, energy providers, component suppliers and end users.

SOURCE Underwriters Laboratories (UL)