SAE International’s Battery Standards Committee has created safety performance standards for lithium-ion battery systems. These are the first minimum base standards for safety performance expectations—i.e., pass-fail criteria— for lithium-ion battery systems.
The document, “J2929 – Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Propulsion Battery System Safety Standard – Lithium-based Rechargeable Cells,” provides a common foundation from which all battery and vehicle manufacturers can create safe battery systems. The standards will build consumer confidence in the safety of lithium ion battery systems.
The adoption of new technologies such as advanced battery systems, require the industry to adopt new standards to increase vehicle safety and this standard will play a vital role in making that a reality. The committee already is working on the second version of the standard which will expand and enhance the standard to include additional aspects related to thermal propagation, flammability, toxicity, EMC and impact resistance.
—Galen E. Ressler, chair of the Battery Safety Standards Task Force
SAE International battery committees are working to limit the potential for danger by developing standards that cover all aspects, from battery design, testing, storage, shipping and recycling of large advanced-technology batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid-electrics. Battery standards are useful for several reasons, but safety is paramount.
SAE International also is working with other organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association to recognize opportunities for improving EV battery safety knowledge, training, communications and vehicle designs for the First Responder community. In addition, the committees are supporting ISO12405 (electrically propelled road vehicles – test specification for Lithium-ion traction battery packs and systems) [GER1] standards development.