December 9, 2025
Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for more than 20% of the global car market in 2024, as manufacturers continue to navigate a complex landscape of regulatory requirements and consumer demand.
EV technology can offer some advantages over traditional cars, but it also presents safety concerns that differ from those associated with internal combustion engines.
Automotive and industrial manufacturers turn to UL Solutions to help demonstrate that their products and components meet the applicable safety standards. This includes the materials that enclose the lithium-ion batteries used in EVs. For example, General Motors (GM) recently chose UL Solutions as an approved provider of key tests.
Whether it’s a laptop, a phone or a car, any device powered by a lithium-ion battery presents a potential risk for thermal runaway, an event in which the battery enters an uncontrollable self-heating state that can lead to extremely high temperatures, smoke, fire, toxic off-gassing or an explosion.
In cars, the EV batteries typically cover the entire base of a vehicle. The materials used to house these batteries must withstand thermal runaway stresses. Recognizing a need in the industry, UL Solutions developed its proprietary TaGTM test method for consistently evaluating EV battery enclosure materials. The TaG test method is a small-scale test that can screen and rank material performance.
This test method is a controlled, repeatable environment that simulates the high temperatures and mechanical stresses associated with a thermal runaway event. UL Solutions provides this small-scale testing for original equipment manufacturers and suppliers to evaluate materials because it can reduce the amount of expensive, potentially hazardous large-scale testing.
Many world-renowned companies turn to UL Solutions for services related to EV and battery technologies. GM has recognized UL Solutions’ laboratory in Northbrook, Illinois, as an approved provider of these two test methods:
- GMW 18435 – Test Procedure of Abusive Flame Test Procedure of Thermal Barrier Materials
- UL 2596 – Test Method for Thermal and Mechanical Performance of Battery Enclosure Materials, Torch and Grit test
Both tests assist GM in selecting the best materials for construction and use as thermal barriers or enclosures for lithium-ion batteries.
“Battery technology is essential to the global transition to clean energy, but these products and systems must be designed to mitigate risk for the consumer,” said Paul Ngai, vice president and general manager of the Engineered Materials group at UL Solutions. “Safety is the foundation for innovation. Our TaG test method is one of the many ways UL Solutions helps companies around the world pursue safer, effective battery innovations. These efforts are an integral part of our mission of working for a safer world.”
UL Solutions offers services to help companies demonstrate compliance with thousands of standards. UL Solutions’ work on testing for compliance with UL 2596 led to a partnership with GM in which UL Solutions provides testing for GMW 18435. UL Solutions offers a range of critical testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services in accordance with automotive industry standards.
By progressively advancing its methods and technologies, UL Solutions aims to more accurately predict and evaluate material behavior under various conditions to help manufacturers enhance reliability, quality and safety for consumers.
UL Solutions provides TaG test services at numerous sites around the world, including Northbrook, Illinois; Carugate, Italy; Ise, Mie, Japan; and Pyeongtaek, South Korea.
UL Solutions has a global network of testing facilities focused on battery technologies. The network includes these locations:
- Advanced Battery Testing Laboratory in Northbrook, Illinois
- North America Advanced Battery Laboratory in Auburn Hills, Michigan
- EV Charging Test Laboratories in Fremont, California; Northbrook, Illinois; and Frankfurt, Germany
- Europe Advanced Battery Testing Laboratory in Aachen, Germany
- Consumer and Micromobility Battery Testing Center in Warsaw, Poland
- UL Solutions E-Mobility and Energy Laboratory in Changzhou, China
- Advanced Battery Testing and Engineering Laboratory in Pyeongtaek, South Korea
- CHAdeMO EV Quick Charger Matching Center in Ise, Mie, Japan
- EV and Micromobility Laboratory in Luzhu, Taiwan
Visit the UL site to learn more about the TaG test method.