Hybrid Lithium Batteries Containing Both Lithium Metal and Lithium Ion Cells and / or Batteries – Limits for Exemption & External Charging. Dr. Thomas Dittrich Consultant

Amendments for Hybrid Batteries  During the 48th session of the Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods the Sub-Committee agreed to adopt provisionally amendments regulating hybrid batteries (new special provision 387 applicable to UN Nos 3090, 3091, 3480, 3481, and new (f)) limited to hybrid batteries with primary lithium metal cells and rechargeable lithium ion cells).  The value of the total lithium content of all lithium metal cells, and the total capacity of all lithium ion cells were left between brackets for further discussion.  Two options for the drafting of (f) were placed between square brackets for decision at the next session. The first one would imply that the paragraph would apply only to batteries not designed to be externally charged and would leave the possibility to manufacture batteries designed to be externally charged, which would then have to be tested differently as rechargeable batteries. The second one would imply that all hybrid batteries of that type would have to be designed not to be externally charged. Thomas Dittrich (Tadiran) - Hybrid Lithium Batteries - March 20162

New SP 387 Lithium Content / Nominal Energy Thomas Dittrich (Tadiran) - Hybrid Lithium Batteries - March Lithium batteries in conformity with (f) containing both primary lithium metal cells and rechargeable lithium ion cells shall be assigned to UN Nos or 3091 as appropriate. When such batteries are transported in accordance with special provision 188 the total lithium content of all lithium metal cells contained in the battery shall not exceed [1 g/2 g] and the total capacity of all lithium ion cells contained in the battery shall not exceed [20 Wh/40 Wh].

Purpose of Hybrid Batteries  The energy of a hybrid battery comes from its primary part  The power (or current capability) of a hybrid battery comes from its rechargeable part  The rechargeable part of a hybrid battery is never disconnected from its „charger“. Therefore it does not require high nominal energy.  Summarizing, hybrid batteries are characterized by a high energy primary cell / battery (meaning high lithium content), and a low energy rechargeable cell / battery  Realistic values are illustrated on the next chart. Thomas Dittrich (Tadiran) - Hybrid Lithium Batteries - March 20164

Hybrid Batteries Nominal Energy vs. Lithium Content Thomas Dittrich (Tadiran) - Hybrid Lithium Batteries - March 20165

Proposal Taking realistic hybrid batteries into account, the lithium content of the primary part should be set to 2 g and the energy content of the rechargeable part should be set to 10 Wh. Therefore, it is proposed that SP 387 should read: „Lithium batteries in conformity with (f) containing both primary lithium metal cells and rechargeable lithium ion cells shall be assigned to UN Nos or 3091 as appropriate. When such batteries are transported in accordance with special provision 188 the total lithium content of all lithium metal cells contained in the battery shall not exceed 2 g and the total capacity of all lithium ion cells contained in the battery shall not exceed 10 Wh. “ Thomas Dittrich (Tadiran) - Hybrid Lithium Batteries - March 20166

7 Hybrid Battery External Charging  If a hybrid battery was designed to be externally charged, then we need to ask ourselves: what should it have a non-rechargeable part for? possibly to prevent deep discharge on long stands by replacing the losses due to self discharge?  If a hybrid battery was designed to be externally charged then this would require: protection against charging of the primary part protection against overcharge of the rechargeable part  Testing the hybrid battery as a rechargeable battery could possibly verify both requirements  Therefore it may be acceptable to chose the first option mentioned on slide 2, reading:

Proposal Add a new subparagraph (f) to read as follows: “(f) Lithium batteries, containing both primary lithium metal cells and rechargeable lithium ion cells, (see special provision 387) shall meet the following conditions: (i) It is not designed to be externally charged; (ii) The rechargeable lithium ion cells can only be charged from the primary lithium metal cells; (iii) Overcharge of the rechargeable lithium ion cells is precluded by design; (iv) The battery has been tested as a lithium primary battery; (v) Component cells of the battery shall be of a type proved to meet the respective testing requirements of the Manual of Tests and Criteria, part III, sub-section 38.3.”. Thomas Dittrich (Tadiran) - Hybrid Lithium Batteries - March 20168

Thank you. Thomas Dittrich (Tadiran) - Hybrid Lithium Batteries - March 20169