What are battery safety requirements?

These include performance and durability requirements for industrial batteries, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and light means of transport (LMT) batteries; safety standards for stationary battery energy storage systems (SBESS); and information requirements on SOH and expected lifetime.

Are lithium batteries covered by the general product safety regulation?

The General Product Safety Regulation covers safety aspects of a product, including lithium batteries, which are not covered by other regulations. Although there are harmonised standards under the regulation, we could not find any that specifically relate to batteries.

What are the requirements for a rechargeable industrial battery?

Performance and Durability Requirements (Article 10) Article 10 of the regulation mandates that from 18 August 2024, rechargeable industrial batteries with a capacity exceeding 2 kWh, LMT batteries, and EV batteries must be accompanied by detailed technical documentation.

What information should be included in the technical documentation of a lithium battery?

The technical documentation should contain information (e.g. description of the lithium battery and its intended use) that makes it possible to assess the lithium battery’s conformity with the requirements of the regulation. The regulation lists the required documentation in Annex VIII.

What types of batteries are covered by the batteries regulation?

The Batteries Regulation covers all types of batteries, including lithium batteries. Here are some of the main areas covered by the regulation: Here are some standards relevant to lithium batteries that are harmonised under the regulation. This standard applies to stationary secondary batteries, including lithium-ion batteries.

Which batteries should be accompanied by a recycling document?

Certain Industrial batteries, electric vehicle batteries, LMT batteries and SLI batteries containing lithium or other listed substances in active materials should be accompanied by documentation concerning their recycled content share.