American and Korean Standards Organizations Come Together to Discuss Future of Mobility

Underwriters Laboratories participated in the 2021 U.S.-Korea Standards Forum organized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) on Dec. 1-2. The event featured an open forum and closed-door bilateral technical discussions led by guest experts from the U.S. and South Korea. Speakers shared insights on standards development, technology trends, and market demands while also exploring opportunities for collaboration.  

Phil Piqueira, vice president of global standards at Underwriters Laboratories and chair of the board at ANSI, spoke on autonomous vehicles and detailed how standards are helping address the challenges and disruptions faced by the mobility industry. He also discussed standardization efforts to promote sustainability and future-ready mobility, emphasizing that the future of sustainable mobility needs to support three important pillars: the planet, through low emissions and minimum waste generation; people, through affordability and safety; and prosperity, through proper guidance that creates new demand drivers and supports responsible consumption.

“Standards have an integral role in driving sustainable and future-ready mobility which, in turn, supports the UL mission of working for a safer world,” Piqueira said.

“Standards have an integral role in driving sustainable and future-ready mobility which, in turn, supports the UL mission of working for a safer world” – Phil Piqueira, vice president of global standards at Underwriters Laboratories

Sonya Bird, director of international standards at Underwriters Laboratories, co-led the technical session on the future of mobility with Young Jun Moon, Ph.D., senior research fellow and chief director of the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI). The session focused on two important mobility trends: autonomous vehicles and circular economy, particularly the repurposing of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. It was one of four parallel technical discussions in which experts from both countries came together to enhance mutual understanding, exchange expertise and best practices, and develop future bilateral cooperation. The topics of the other three sessions were quantum technology, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors. 

Standards Program Manager Deborah Prince also spoke during the technical session and delivered an introduction to UL 4600, the Standard for Safety for the Evaluation of Autonomous Vehicles and Other Products, explaining how its set of safety-based best practices helps address the critical needs of autonomous vehicle technology. Laurie Florence, principal engineer for stationary/motive batteries and energy storage systems at UL, Underwriters Laboratories’ business solutions affiliate, also spoke about UL 1974, the Standard for Evaluation for Repurposed Batteries. Florence explained how this standard helps set the benchmark for high-quality repurposed batteries by addressing safety concerns and building trust for repurposed battery recognition. 

U.S. delegates in the technical session included UL Standards Technical Panel 4600 members Finch Fulton and Kevin Gay, as well as representatives from SAE International, which signed a collaboration agreement with Underwriters Laboratories in June 2020. The technical discussion provided useful information about the standards development progress in the U.S., Korea, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The delegates intend to continue the dialogue and explore closer collaborations to advance the future development in the mobility sector.

Watch the open forum of the 2021 U.S.-Korea Standards Forum: