March 23, 2026
Originally published July 26, 2023
The International Energy Agency reports that over 17 million electric vehicles (EVs) were sold in 2024, representing 20% of all new-car sales.The numbers keep climbing. In 2023 it was 18%, and in 2022 it was about 14%.
The rapid adoption of EVs is a product of the steadily improving technology that makes EVs practical and desirable. In regular use, EVs seem to check all the boxes: zero atmospheric emissions, fewer moving parts to fail, quiet operation – a boon to personal transportation.
However, the increased use of electronic systems in EVs also introduces new challenges. Ensuring reliable operation requires electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and RF immunity testing to protect sensitive electronics from electromagnetic interference (EMI).
The Electromagnetic Environment Around Electric Vehicles
Like any vehicle, EVs operate in a world subject to extremes. Temperature and moisture are obviously given to extremes, but the electromagnetic (EM) environment is rich with fields and transients that can be extreme in unpredictable ways. EVs rely on complex electronics to react to the driver, interpreting signals in real time from the accelerator, brake pedal, and steering column to control the heavy currents required to operate the drive motors and mechanical systems.
Because these systems depend on precise electronic communication, electromagnetic interference (EMI) can pose a serious risk if not properly addressed.
The Importance of RF Immunity and Automotive EMC Testing
Electronic vehicle control has come a long way since the early 1970s, when first-generation automotive electronics were found vulnerable to radiofrequency (RF) signals. The original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worked with their suppliers to improve system immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Both the technology and the understanding of EMI have greatly improved since then, but the concern is the same. Elite’s Automotive EMC Testing Specialist Stan Dolecki has been involved in testing vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) for many years and understands potential interference risks.
Elite Automotive Specialist Stan Dolecki
“Radiated and conducted immunity testing has always been done on automotive components and whole vehicles, and the concern is greater with EVs,” Stan explained. “The interfering signal can come from anywhere, including within the vehicle.” EMI can come from a steady RF field, like a broadcast signal, or it can be a transient spike like an electrostatic discharge (ESD). “One of the major sources of ESD, for example, are serpentine belts. They build up a charge and create transients that affect microprocessor circuits. Transients disrupt logic signals and cause random failures,” Stan said.
Automotive EMC Standards for Electric Vehicle Testing
A host of automotive EMI immunity standards address the applicable RF levels and the test procedures used in verification. ISO 7637-4 is one such standard, dealing with conducted and coupled electrical disturbances, testing for low-frequency ripple in an EV’s DC supply brought on by external disturbances.
Electronic components are also tested under:
Some automakers maintain their own corporate standards for testing electronic components, including:
- VW 80000
- FMC 1280
These standards help ensure the resiliency of automotive electronic systems and contribute to the safe and reliable operation of electric vehicles.
Component-Level and Whole-Vehicle EMC Testing
All of this demonstrates the commitment to safe and reliable operation made by the automotive industry. Automotive EMC testing for electric vehicles evaluates both individual components and complete vehicles to ensure electronics can withstand electromagnetic interference.
“EMI immunity is a huge part of the test sequence for EVs,” Stan explained. “We can’t take the risk of an engine failure or a vehicle-control failure when an unseen RF signal or transient is there. The tests we do are thorough and well-documented. The manufacturers of the vehicles and their components rely on this throughout the development process.”
A car on the dynamometer in Elite’s whole-vehicle EMC test chamber
Elite’s lab performs component-level testing on devices such as:
- voltage converters
- regulators
- charging systems
In addition, Elite operates a whole-vehicle EMC test chamber equipped with a dynamometer that allows a vehicle to run under simulated road conditions during testing. Complete testing is important, from the component level on up,” Stan said.
Learn More About EV EMC Testing
Contact Elite for more information on RF immunity testing and electric vehicle EMC testing. Put Elite’s deep experience and well-earned industry confidence to work for you as you verify your automotive electronic components. Elite also provides comprehensive automotive EMC testing, including component and whole-vehicle testing to evaluate electromagnetic interference, RF immunity, and compliance with automotive standards.
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