Formosa Smart Energy Tech Corporation (FSET) has cleared a key international automotive regulatory threshold with its electric bus battery system officially obtaining United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) R100.03 E-Mark certification. The certification aligns with Taiwan’s policies and qualification review mechanisms for electric buses, will help vehicle manufacturers streamline subsidy applications. With capabilities spanning international automotive regulations, safety validation, and mass-production quality management, FSET has established a comprehensive automotive battery supply capability, marking a concrete step toward bringing Taiwan-made batteries into the European automotive market while further strengthening Taiwan’s electric bus industry.

R100.03 is a European safety regulation for electric vehicles that sets stringent requirements for the mechanical, thermal, and electrical safety of rechargeable energy storage systems. The FSET battery system certified under the regulation uses local LFP cells produced at the battery cell and module plant in Changhua Coastal Industrial Park. It has independently obtained R100.03 E-Mark certification as a Rechargeable Electrical Energy Storage System (REESS), providing an important foundation for vehicle manufacturers in subsequent certification.

Chairperson Sandy Wang said that as the global transition toward electrified transportation continues, competition in the automotive battery industry is expanding beyond production capacity to encompass safety, quality, mass-production capabilities, and compliance with international automotive regulations. For Taiwan’s electric vehicle industry, localizing battery cell production is only the starting point. The industry must also develop independent capabilities spanning modules, system integration, and automotive-grade certification in order to strengthen Taiwan’s participation in the global automotive supply chain. This certification demonstrates that Taiwan automotive batteries have crossed a critical international system-level regulatory threshold, creating opportunities for the industry to capture greater value and access broader markets.

Sandy Wang further noted that FSET’s battery plant has obtained IATF 16949 certification for automotive quality management systems (LOC). Combined with the R100.03 E-Mark certification, FSET is now better positioned to meet the battery-related qualification requirements under Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) electric bus promotion program. This will make it easier for vehicle manufacturers using FSET batteries to complete qualification reviews and apply for subsidies, accelerating the adoption of Taiwan-made batteries, reducing reliance on overseas components, and strengthening the self-sufficiency and resilience of Taiwan’s electric bus supply chain.

According to Stephen Liu, President of FSET, R100.03 E-Mark certification involves a series of rigorous safety tests on the battery system, including vibration and mechanical impact tests simulating vehicle operating conditions, repeated high- and low-temperature shock and cycling tests, as well as extreme scenarios such as fire exposure and external short circuits. During testing, the battery system must not exhibit fire, explosion, or electrolyte leakage, while maintaining the required electrical insulation performance. In particular, when thermal runaway was deliberately triggered in a single battery cell under a fully charged condition, the Battery Management System (BMS) correctly detected the abnormal condition and issued an alert. The battery pack also controlled gas release through pressure relief valves, with no fire or propagation of thermal runaway throughout the test. These results demonstrate the battery system’s integrated active and passive safety design, covering abnormality detection, warning, and risk containment.

The battery system also successfully passed the Conformity of Production (COP) assessment. Stephen Liu explained that this means automotive-grade requirements extend beyond the products submitted for testing to ensure that subsequent mass-production processes and quality management systems can consistently maintain compliance with certification requirements. By integrating locally manufactured battery cells, battery modules, BMS, system integration, and mass-production management, FSET has established comprehensive automotive battery capabilities spanning product development, automotive regulatory certification, and mass-production supply. Looking ahead, FSET will continue to strengthen its technological capabilities and expand the participation of Taiwan batteries in the global automotive supply chain.

About Formosa Smart Energy
Formosa Smart Energy was established in 2022 by Formosa Plastics Group with the mission to vertically integrate the Group’s resources and focus on energy saving, energy storage, new energy, and recycling. The company has built Taiwan’s largest production base for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells and modules, actively promoting the development of Taiwan’s battery industry chain and expanding into international markets.

The company is investing in the R&D of cutting-edge technology, including solid-state batteries, battery recycling, and microalgae-based carbon capture, to realize the vision of a circular economy. Formosa Smart Energy is committed to delivering sustainable energy solutions for the benefit of both the planet and humanity.