What is the State of Charge policy for UN3480 P.I.965 Lithium Ion Batteries under Section IB?

What is the State of Charge policy for UN3480 P.I.965 Lithium Ion Batteries under Section IB?

• A. State of charge not exceeding 30% of rated design capacity unless approvals are obtained
• B. State of charge must be exactly 50% at all times
• C. State of charge must be 0% when shipped without approvals
• D. State of charge can be any value as long as declared

Answer: (A)

Limiting the energy inside a lithium-ion battery during transport is a key safety measure. For UN 3480 lithium-ion batteries under Section IB of Packing Instruction 965, the state of charge must not exceed 30% of the battery’s rated design capacity unless you have explicit approvals to ship with a higher charge. In practice, you determine 30% of the battery’s design capacity and ensure the battery is at or below that SOC before shipping. If you need to ship with a higher charge, you must obtain approvals from the carrier/regulator and follow the additional packaging, labeling, and handling requirements that come with that approval. This lower SOC reduces the risk and potential severity of a thermal event if the battery is damaged or exposed to adverse conditions during transit. The other options either present an unnecessarily high or arbitrary charge level or ignore the required approvals and safety framework.

Limiting the energy inside a lithium-ion battery during transport is a key safety measure. For UN 3480 lithium-ion batteries under Section IB of Packing Instruction 965, the state of charge must not exceed 30% of the battery’s rated design capacity unless you have explicit approvals to ship with a higher charge. In practice, you determine 30% of the battery’s design capacity and ensure the battery is at or below that SOC before shipping. If you need to ship with a higher charge, you must obtain approvals from the carrier/regulator and follow the additional packaging, labeling, and handling requirements that come with that approval. This lower SOC reduces the risk and potential severity of a thermal event if the battery is damaged or exposed to adverse conditions during transit. The other options either present an unnecessarily high or arbitrary charge level or ignore the required approvals and safety framework.