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May 23, 2024
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China aims to reduce the risk of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries with 22 new rules, but the rules will only apply to their domestic market.
China has announced that the country is instituting new technical standards for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries. The new technical standards encompass all lithium-ion batteries, from those used in smartphones to the ones in EVs and, yes, those in e-bikes and other micromobility devices.
The new technical standards are intended to address the risk of thermal runaway and fires. There are 22 standards being adopted. They cover issues including: over-charging, over-discharging, punctures, external short-circuits, thermal abuse and more.
Manufacturers are being given time to make the production changes necessary to meet these requirements. Enforcement will not begin until November 1, 2024.
Unfortunately, the new standard will only apply to China’s domestic market. Lithium-ion batteries produced exclusively with the intent to export will not be required to meet these rules.
It’s hard not to draw conclusions about how the government of China views foreign markets if they are willing to establish higher safety standards for products aimed at domestic customers. Congress is considering new regulations, so we may see the U.S. demand standards similar to what China will enforce in their domestic market.
Manufacturers that have been producing the cheapest products they can bring to market will continue to do so. In some instances, products that were sold both domestically and abroad will simply be sold abroad; the manufacturers will face a smaller overall market, but they will have more product to ship overseas, so we may see cheap products in greater numbers, which may drive down prices on the most questionable e-mobility devices.
Manufacturers that have consistently produced quality products will continue to do good work. We may not see batteries produced to these specifications on U.S. shores any time soon, though. Why? With many manufacturers seeking UL certification, a change to a battery means submitting that new design to UL for certification, a not inexpensive proposition. When a manufacturer releases a new product (such as a potted battery or even one with a greater charge capacity), they will need to submit that battery or system to UL for certification. At that point we may begin to see batteries made to these standards in our stores.
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