ISO 11452 is an international automotive EMC standard titled “Road vehicles — Component test methods for electrical disturbances from narrowband radiated electromagnetic energy.” It defines how electronic components and modules in vehicles should be tested for immunity against electromagnetic fields. Unlike CISPR 25, which focuses on emissions, ISO 11452 focuses on susceptibility, measuring how resistant a device is when exposed to external electromagnetic interference (EMI).

This standard includes several parts (e.g., ISO 11452-2 for anechoic chamber testing, ISO 11452-4 for bulk current injection, ISO 11452-9 for portable transmitters), each describing a specific test method to evaluate how a component behaves when subjected to radiated or conducted RF disturbances in different frequency ranges.

Why It Matters for Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles contain numerous high-voltage, high-frequency systems such as traction inverters, on-board chargers, DC-DC converters, and advanced driver-assistance systems. These systems not only generate electromagnetic noise but must also operate reliably when exposed to external interference from sources like mobile phones, Wi-Fi routers, radar systems, or nearby industrial equipment.

ISO 11452 ensures that sensitive electronic modules inside EVs, such as battery management systems, safety controllers, infotainment units, and ADAS sensors, remain functional under such exposure. In practice, compliance helps prevent failures like unintended resets of control units, malfunction of driver assistance features, or disruptions in safety-critical electronics.

For EVs, this is important because the use of wide bandgap devices (SiC and GaN), higher switching speeds, and dense electronic integration increase both the emission and susceptibility risks. By following ISO 11452 test methods, manufacturers can validate that their power electronics and control systems are robust enough to withstand the electromagnetic environment of modern roads.

ISO 11452 is the immunity counterpart to emission standards like CISPR 25. While CISPR 25 ensures that EV electronics do not emit excessive EMI, ISO 11452 ensures that those same electronics can resist and function correctly in the presence of external electromagnetic fields. Together, they form a critical foundation for achieving reliable and safe operation of electric vehicles.