The Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) has issued a public notice informing companies, factories, and enterprises involved in the production, importation and distribution of electric vehicles (EVs) about basic safety measures in EV usage.

The notice aims to raise awareness, promote safety standards, and reduce the risk of malfunctions. The notice follows observations that some EV users have limited awareness and understanding of safety measures related to EV operation. Such limited understanding may pose risks to drivers, passengers, other road users, property, the environment, and society.

It states that basic know-how is necessary to prevent, mitigate, and avoid potential risks and incidents. The Ministry has outlined measures aimed at providing users with knowledge and a basic understanding of safe EV usage.

Companies and enterprises are instructed to prepare basic safety instructions in Khmer, supported by illustrations, covering all types of EVs prior to their market introduction.

These safety instructions include guidance on managing situations such as system failures that may prevent doors or windows from opening, battery fires or explosions during collisions, and battery overheating during charging, including cases where the battery fails to charge properly or where the electrical power supply is below or above the required standard. They also cover the use of home charging devices or public charging stations when the battery is overheated or during rainfall, as well as electrical short circuits or system failures during the rainy season, driving through flooded roads, and vehicle washing procedures.

The notice instructs relevant parties to produce short video messages based on the above scenarios to inform users about basic EV safety measures.

It also states that all electric vehicles must be registered and certified for safety compliance in accordance with Cambodian standards and relevant technical regulations, as stipulated in MISTI's instructions.

Importers, distributors, and sellers of EVs are required to provide training and guidance to users on basic safety measures and potential risks before handing over vehicles to customers. They are also required to cooperate with the Cambodian Standards Inspectors of the Ministry.