由 caicai8478 United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN TDG)
Defines the classification, packaging and testing standards for lithium batteries, such as passing the UN 38.3 test (vibration, impact, short circuit and other safety verification).
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air
Lithium metal batteries (UN 3090) are prohibited from being transported on passenger aircraft, and lithium-ion batteries (UN 3480) must meet requirements such as state of charge (SOC) ≤ 30%.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)
Specifies fire prevention, short circuit prevention measures and container isolation requirements for lithium batteries shipped by sea.
Other regional regulations
Such as EU ADR (road transport) and US DOT 49 CFR, all of which are based on UN standards to develop detailed rules.
- Reasons why lithium batteries have become the focus of supervision
Prominent safety risks
Thermal runaway risk: lithium batteries are prone to fire or explosion when short-circuited, overcharged or mechanically damaged, and are difficult to extinguish (such as lithium metal reacting with water).
Accident cases: UPS cargo plane lithium battery fire in 2010, electric vehicle transport ship sinking in 2023, etc., highlight the high risk of transportation.
Explosive growth in market size
The average annual growth rate of global lithium battery demand exceeds 30% (reaching 1.2TWh in 2023). The popularity of electric vehicles and energy storage systems has led to a surge in transportation volume, and regulatory pressure has risen simultaneously.
Challenges of global supply chain globalization
Lithium battery production is concentrated in China (accounting for 70% of the world), and needs to be transported over long distances to Europe and the United States. The implementation of regulations in multimodal transport is prone to loopholes (such as concealment and unqualified packaging).
Environmental protection and recycling responsibilities
Waste lithium batteries contain heavy metals and electrolytes. International regulations (such as the Basel Convention) require that the transportation process must take into account the end-of-line recycling responsibility.
III. Regulatory trends and industry responses
Technical measures are strengthened
Mandatory use of fireproof and explosion-proof packaging (such as UN-certified Class II packaging) and installation of short-circuit protection devices.
Full-chain traceability management
China will implement a “white list” for lithium battery exports in 2024, and the EU requires Battery Passport to track carbon footprints and safety data.
Increased penalties for violations
The US FAA fined more than one million US dollars for concealing lithium batteries; China Customs seized 40% more lithium battery exports exceeding the standard in 2023.
IV. Summary
The essence of stricter lithium battery transportation regulations is to balance industrial development and public safety. In the future, with the application of new technologies such as solid-state batteries, the regulatory framework may be dynamically adjusted, but the principle of “safety redundancy” remains the core logic. Enterprises need to plan compliant supply chains in advance to avoid the risk of trade disruptions.
(Word count: 798)
If you need to further expand a section (such as specific test standards or case details), you can add it at any time.