le> Yahoo! is not affiliated with the authors of this page or responsible for its content.
Conversion to Electric Drive


NATIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE
for
LIGHT VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION
and
MODIFICATION


NATIONAL GUIDELINES
for
THE INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC
DRIVES
IN MOTOR VEHICLES


1
st
February 2006
Electric Drive Guidelines
Page 2/19
/
National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification (NCOP)
Warning to Users
Users of the NCOP together with its Guidelines need to be aware that these documents need to
be used in conjunction with the appropriate administrative requirements of the jurisdiction in which
they wish to either register a vehicle or to obtain approval for a modification for an already
registered vehicle. Administrative requirements include, amongst other things, processes for:-
vehicle registration, obtaining exemptions, obtaining modification approvals, vehicle inspections,
preparation and submission of reports and the payment of appropriate fees and charges.
If unsure of any of these requirements, or if more information is needed for any other issues or
processes, users should contact their relevant registration authority prior to commencing any
work.
Whilst the NCOP and its Guidelines provide assistance with respect to the construction of ICVs
and the execution of modifications, these are not to be taken to be design manuals.
Determination of component strength, performance, suitability and functionality must be either
calculated or determined on a case by case basis by suitably qualified personnel experienced in
each matter under consideration.
Users of the NCOP also need to ensure that they refer to the most recent version of the relevant
Section/s when working on a job or project. The version is identified by the date on the face page
of each Section. On the website, each Section has the version date contained in the Section file
name for easy identification.
It is prudent to check for new versions if a job or project is taking a long time to complete.
If they have not already done so, users must also download the Preface and Introduction.
These two Sections provide the necessary background information to assist users in
understanding how the NCOP is administered by registration authorities across Australia, on how
it is structured, and the meaning of the types of modification codes specified in the NCOP.
Understanding these requirements is important to ensure that the correct processes are followed
thereby reducing the likelihood of having work rejected by authorities.
Many of the Sections refer to other Sections for further information or additional requirements.
Users must download all relevant Sections. Lack of information due to insufficient downloads will
not be accepted as an excuse by authorities.
If in doubt about any issue concerning or contained in the NCOP, users should seek clarification
from the appropriate state or territory registration authority.


Please do not contact the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) about
the NCOP. DOTARS provides the central NCOP website as a service only.


Electric Drive Guidelines
Page 3/19
/

National Code of Practice for the Construction and
Modification of Light Vehicles

Guidelines for the Installation of Electric Drives in road
vehicles


PREFACE
BACKGROUND
These Guidelines have been sourced from documents prepared by the Roads and Traffic
Authority of NSW and Queensland Transport. The original documents were further developed
by the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI (SA)) in consultation with
electrical engineers.
These Guidelines have subsequently been endorsed by all Australian State and Territory
Jurisdictions responsible for vehicle standards and the registration of vehicles for road use.
These Guidelines apply to the Installation of Electric Drives in road vehicles.
INTENT
This bulletin is for the assistance of people who intend to utilise an electrical drive in a
passenger car or light commercial vehicle. It applies to vehicles that are to be manufactured
specifically for electric drive by individuals (i.e. Individually Constructed Vehicles (ICVs)) and to
vehicles that are to be converted from petrol or diesel operation.


SCOPE
These Guidelines form an integral part of the National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle
Construction and Modification (NCOP). Section LO Vehicle Standards Compliance of the NCOP
outlines the minimum requirements for the assessment and certification of compliance with the
Australian Design Rules (ADRs) for individually constructed vehicles.
Section LO also
provides additional information about the Australian Design Rules, their applicability
dates and reasons for rejection.
The NCOP also has other sections under which modifications or vehicle construction can be
shown to be in conformity with the ADRs.
As this bulletin specifically covers electric drive issues only, Builders or Modifiers must
refer to the NCOP for more detailed information about vehicle modifications and ICV
construction.

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LAWS OF AUSTRALIAN JURISDICTIONS
Subject to Federal laws and the laws of the States and Territories of Australia, this document
defines standards of practice for the design, manufacture and/or modification of vehicles Electric Drive Guidelines
Page 4/19
/
intended to be powered by electrical means. Other procedures are acceptable subject to
adequate technical justification.
NOTE:
Nothing in these Guidelines is to be regarded as in any way limiting the powers and
duties of the Chief Executive Officer of the registration authority in question, or any
agent or employee of that Officer, under the appropriate Act/s of that jurisdiction, or
subsidiary legislation made there under.
Where any Australian Design Rule or any Australian Vehicle Standards Rule is
referred to in these guidelines, the appropriate Australian Design Rule or Australian
Vehicle Standards Rules 1999 should be read in full to avoid misinterpretation.
It is also important to note that each jurisdiction may have different clause numbers in
its adopted version of the Australian Vehicle Standards Rules.
ADMINISTRATION
These Guidelines provide a nationally consistent set of technical specifications for the
installation of electric drives in motor vehicles. Jurisdictions have their own administrative
procedures and requirements for the registration of new vehicles and for the approval of
modifications. Owners must familiarise themselves with the provisions of the jurisdiction in
which they reside. Similarly, owners of electrically powered vehicles who wish to transfer their
vehicle to another state or territory need to obtain relevant information from that jurisdiction.
Definition of Signatory
For the purposes of the NCOP and these Guidelines, engineers and tradespersons involved in
the approval process will be defined collectively under the generic term of Signatory. Wherever
the term Signatory is used, it always means that the signatory referred to is one who has the
necessary knowledge and technical expertise to assess and sign-off the matter under
consideration.
NCOP Codes
Persons authorised under an authorised modification scheme, operated by a jurisdiction, may
stamp the NCOP codes on a modification plate. The plate specifications, stamping and fixing
must be in accordance with the jurisdictions business rules for the scheme in question.
Persons not authorised to attach modification plates to a vehicle must also use these codes
when submitting applications to their local registering authority. In all cases the appropriate
checklists must be completed. Authorised persons must hold the checklists for auditing
purposes, whilst non-authorised persons must submit the signed-off check lists with their
respective applications.
Please refer to your registering authoritys business rules for more detailed information about the
management of checklists.
Work performed to these Guidelines qualifies for Code LV1.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
It is recognised that a set of Guidelines that covers all eventualities is not feasible. This
document needs to be recognised as being a live document and hence will need to be revised
from time to time to include future developments arising from regulatory changes, improvements
in technology and the development of alternative designs.
The document may also be revised to improve its editorial content. Electric Drive Guidelines
Page 5/19
/
FUTURE REVISIONS
Future revisions are the responsibility of the Australian Motor Vehicle Certification Board
Working Party. Revisions, other than those of a legal or editorial nature, will be processed in
consultation with the appropriate user groups.
The Working Party may consider applications from individuals concerning recommended
revisions to the Guidelines. However, it is preferable that applications are submitted after
consideration by the appropriate user groups. In any event, the Working Party will consult
widely before making a final decision on any proposed amendments to the Guidelines.
DATE AT WHICH THE DOCUMENT TAKES EFFECT
This document takes effect at the date of issue.
D