The BATSS partners from UNE together with all project partners have started dedicated standardisation activities in close collaboration with the CEN/CENELEC committees, efforts aim to develop new technical guidelines that will support the deployment of advanced battery systems across Europe.
KIck-off meeting to launch the standardisation process
The first meeting, “Performance for non-common vehicles based on advanced cell technology”, marks the beginning of this process. The workshop focused on defining a harmonised driving cycle for electric excavators, one of the BATSS’ key use cases in the field of non‑common electric vehicles. The objectives of this workshop were twofold:
- to establish the working group within the CENELEC framework and review the preliminary project plan
- to present and discuss the technical elements that will shape the CWA, including its rationale, scope and methodological approach
Collaboration through CEN/CENELEC workshops
CEN/CENELEC workshops (WS) are one of the mechanisms provided by European standardisation bodies to develop technical documents and standards through direct stakeholder collaboration. Their outcome, the CEN-CENELEC Workshop Agreement (CWA), acts as a pre-standard that can later support formal standardisation and regulatory processes.
BATSS has proposed the development of the CWA “Use case validation profile for off-road applications”. Electric excavators have highly variable and application‑specific power profiles that differ significantly from road vehicles. Currently, there is no dedicated standard describing these operating conditions. To address this gap, BATSS is developing a representative and scalable driving cycle based on:
- Real-world data from two electric excavators provided by manufacturers within the BATSS consortium.
- Results from a doctoral thesis already evaluated within the project.
- A structured comparison with existing reference driving cycles.
This driving cycle will support battery manufacturers, OEMs and regulators by providing:
- A representative and harmonised driving cycle for electric excavators.
- A replicable framework for battery manufacturers and OEMs.
- A technical basis for future regulatory discussions in Europe.
Key outcomes & next steps
The workshop confirmed that the CWA will focus on establishing a reference driving cycle specifically for electric excavators, addressing:
- highly variable and application‑specific power demands;
- the need for realistic scenarios for battery design, charging, and operation;
- the current market fragmentation caused by each OEM using its own internal profiles.
This alignment ensures a shared vision for the final document and sets a solid foundation for the work ahead. The upcoming meetings will further refine the technical content:
April 2026 | Meeting 2
Comparative analysis of reference cycles
Validation of the quantitative elements of the proposed driving cycle
Collection of further stakeholder input
June 2026 | Meeting 3
Final review of the CWA manuscript
Consensus approval and preparation for publication
Participants are encouraged to actively contribute data, examples, and technical remarks to ensure the final CWA is practical and aligned with sector needs.
Moving Towards a Needed Industry Standard
This first workshop officially launches the development of a much‑needed standard for non‑conventional electric vehicles. Through strong collaboration between BATSS partners, UNE and the wider stakeholder community, the resulting CWA is expected to play a key role in the electrification of heavy machinery and support Europe’s wider transition to cleaner and more efficient energy systems.
