Electric power trains operate at voltage levels of around 500 Volts, and the proposals would look to ensure vehicle users' safety by protecting them from contact with high-voltage parts of the vehicle.

The Commission said that harmonised test requirements on electric safety would simplify the approval of electric vehicles and will also reduce the administrative burden for manufacturers. It added that the establishment of common safety standards would also help European car manufacturers to sell their electric cars in third countries.

Vice president Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: 'Electrical vehicles are one of the most promising technologies for greener transport. Knowing that these will be generally available to consumers in the very near future we need to ensure that they are safe to use. These proposals aim at doing just that.'

In addition, the European Commission has announced a proposal to cut the red tape involved with type approval of vehicles by ending the duality between EC Directives and UNECE Regulations. This would have the added benefit of improving market access for European car manufacturers in those third countries which are contracting parties to the UNECE Agreement of 1958.

In this way, type-approval issued under the UNECE Regulations would be considered as EC type-approval.

The proposal will now be transmitted to the Member States for approval.