The United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals officially released the 8th revised edition of the Manual of Tests and Criteria on November 27, 2023.

1. In section UN 38.3, the main differences in the new version are as follows:

1.& nbsp;Add sodium ion battery test clauses
The 23rd revised edition of the United Nations TDG Regulation officially introduces exclusive entries for sodium ion batteries and related equipment: UN 3551 and UN 3552. The UN38.3 test requirements for sodium-ion batteries have been added to comprehensively control sodium-ion batteries. Similar to lithium batteries, sodium-ion batteries also need to pass the UN38.3 test before being submitted for transportation.
Therefore, the 8th revised edition of the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria has also revised Section 38.3 to add Section 38.3.3.2,”Testing of sodium ion cells and batteries”, which stipulates detailed testing requirements for sodium-ion batteries.

2. 38.3.3.1 Testing of lithium cells and batteriesThe test requirements for battery assemblies have been revised in, and the new sodium-ion batteries also have the same requirements:
For battery assemblies that are not equipped with overcharge protection, if they are designed for use only as a component 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 need to be protected by a physical system or program control to prevent them from being used.

2. 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.

3. Sample delivery requirements for sodium ion 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