The 11th session of the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (December 9, 2022) adopted a new set of amendments to the seventh revised edition of the Manual of Tests and Criteria (including Amendment 1), and the 8th revised edition of the Manual of Tests and Criteria was released on November 27, 2023.

In Section 38.3, the main changes in the new version are as follows:

1. Add sodium ion battery test clauses;

2. Revised the test requirements for integrated battery packs:

For integrated battery packs that are not equipped with overcharge protection, if they are designed for use only as components of other batteries, equipment, or vehicles that provide overcharge protection:

– Overcharge protection needs to be verified in other batteries, equipment or vehicles;

– Charging systems that do not include overcharge protection require a physical system or program control to prevent them from being used.

Comparison of test differences between sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries:

(1) Sodium-ion batteries do not need to undergo T.8 forced discharge test;

(2) For sodium-ion cells or sodium-ion single-cell batteries, during the T.6 squeeze/impact test, the cells are fully charged.

Sample delivery requirements for sodium battery UN38.3 test standard:

● Single cell: 20 cells

● Single cell battery: 18 batteries, 10 batteries

● Small battery pack (≤12Kg): 16 batteries, 10 cells

● Large battery pack (>12Kg): 8 batteries, 10 cells