What AIS-156 requires of the battery management system, and how to size and select one for a two-wheeler EV.
AIS-156: the requirement you build around
AIS-156 is India's Automotive Industry Standard for the safety of lithium-ion traction battery packs, issued by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. It covers L-category vehicles — two-wheelers, three-wheelers and quadricycles — so it applies directly to electric motorcycles. It is mandatory: a pack must meet AIS-156 to receive CMVR (Central Motor Vehicles Rules) type approval, and without type approval the vehicle cannot be legally sold. It has been enforced in phases since December 2022.
For the BMS specifically, AIS-156 requires a microprocessor-based BMS with full cell-level protections. In practice the BMS must detect and respond to:
- cell overvoltage (for LFP, typically above 3.65 V) and undervoltage (typically below 2.5 V),
- over-current, and
- over-temperature.
The standard also brings pack-level requirements such as thermal-propagation testing, water ingress protection (IPX7) and battery traceability, and the cells themselves must be certified separately (IS 16893). (Confirm the current requirements against the official AIS-156 standard, as it is updated in phases.)
Two boundaries worth being clear on: AIS-156 certification applies at the battery-pack / vehicle type-approval level, not to a single component — a BMS supports that compliance rather than being "AIS-156 certified" on its own. And the cell-level certification (IS 16893) and pack water-ingress rating are separate items to confirm with your cell supplier and pack design.
What this means for choosing the BMS
Choose a BMS that provides the functions AIS-156 asks of it. DALY's smart BMS is microprocessor-based and includes the cell-level protections the standard requires — over-voltage, under-voltage, over-current, over-temperature and short-circuit — so it can support your pack's AIS-156 compliance. What it does not do on its own is grant certification: that is achieved at the pack and vehicle level, with the cells and pack design meeting their own requirements.
Sizing the BMS to your motorcycle
Once compliance is covered, size the BMS to the vehicle:
- Voltage platform. Indian electric motorcycles commonly run on 48 V, 60 V or 72 V. The platform (set by cell count) determines the BMS variant.
- Current. Estimate the current from motor power and system voltage. As a working guide on a 72 V system: a ~3 kW commuter draws roughly 55 A, a ~5 kW mid-power bike roughly 90 A, and an ~8 kW performance bike roughly 145 A. On a 60 V system, or where high peak current is needed, an 8 kW motor can reach 175–200 A. Size the BMS to the continuous current, and confirm the peak current separately.
- Communication. If the bike has a smart dashboard, choose a BMS with the interface it needs (CAN or UART) to report state of charge and status.
Matching a DALY BMS to your two-wheeler
DALY's two-wheeler-suitable range (the Mini-Red line) covers the common current bands:
| Motor power (72 V guide) | Approx. current | DALY variant |
|---|---|---|
| ~3 kW commuter | ~55 A | AH / AK (smart) or TH (active balancing) |
| ~5 kW mid-power | ~90 A | AK (smart) or TK (active) |
| ~8 kW performance | ~145 A (up to 175–200 A) | AM (smart) or TM (active) |
| Very high-power / heavy | 250 A+ | AS / TS (higher-current variants) |
Smart (A-series) and active-balancing (T-series) variants share a 4–24S universal design with UART, RS485 and CAN plus Bluetooth. Choose active balancing where cells drift or you want maximum usable capacity; choose the higher-current AS/TS variants only for the highest-power, heavy machines. Confirm the exact continuous and peak current, and the enclosure rating, on the model datasheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1Is AIS-156 mandatory for electric motorcycles in India?
Yes. AIS-156 covers L-category vehicles including two-wheelers, and a pack must meet it for CMVR type approval; without type approval the vehicle can't be legally sold.
Q2Does AIS-156 require a BMS?
Yes — it requires a microprocessor-based BMS with cell-level protections (over- and under-voltage, over-current, over-temperature).
Q3Can a BMS be "AIS-156 certified" by itself?
Certification applies at the pack and vehicle type-approval level, not to a single component. A BMS provides the functions the standard requires to support the pack's compliance.
Q4What current rating do I need?
Estimate it from motor power and voltage — for example, on 72 V, roughly 55 A for a 3 kW bike, 90 A for 5 kW, 145 A for 8 kW. Size to continuous current and confirm peak separately.
Q5Which voltage platform is common in India?
48 V, 60 V and 72 V are the common electric-motorcycle platforms; the platform sets the BMS variant.
About DALY
DALY designs and manufactures lithium battery management systems for OEMs, pack manufacturers, and integrators in 130+ countries, with Smart BMS variants supporting CAN, RS485, UART, and Bluetooth across mobile, industrial, and energy-storage families. Founded in 2015, DALY operates under ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 systems with CE and RoHS compliance; the energy-storage line carries UL Recognized Component status (not full UL system certification). Test reports and technical documentation are available on request, so customers pursuing their own product certification have the supporting materials they need.
Discuss Your Project with DALY
Tell us your motorcycle's details — voltage platform, motor power (continuous and peak), cell chemistry and count, and dashboard interface — and whether the pack needs to meet AIS-156 for type approval. Our technical team will recommend the BMS variant, confirm the protections and communication, and send you the datasheet and a quote. See the electric two-wheeler BMS application page, or the smart BMS and active-balancing BMS ranges.
Email: dalybms@dalyelec.com
Post time: Aug-26-2026
