Background

Sodium-ion batteries have the advantages of abundant resources, wide distribution, low cost and good safety. With the significant increase in the price of lithium resources and the increasing demand for lithium and other basic components of lithium ion batteries, we are forced to explore new and cheaper electrochemical systems based on existing abundant elements. Lower-cost sodium-ion batteries are the best option. Under the trend of new energy, all countries in the world are developing or reserving sodium-ion battery technology, and various battery factories compete to launch sodium-ion battery technology route, which will soon enter the mass production stage and realize industrialization. It is expected that with the increase of investment in the industry, the maturity of technology, the gradual improvement of the industrial chain, the cost-effective sodium ion battery is expected to share part of the lithium ion battery market.

Current situation

As a new type of battery, sodium-ion battery has not been included in the control range in various transportation laws and regulations. Neither the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Standards, maritime transport Regulations IMDG, and air transport Regulations DGR have any transport regulations related to sodium batteries. If there are no sound laws and regulations to restrict the transportation of sodium-ion batteries, the timely formulation and update of the corresponding rules will hinder and affect the transportation and safety of sodium-ion batteries. In view of this, the United Nations Dangerous Goods Transport Group (UN TDG) and the International Civil Aviation Organization Dangerous Goods Group (ICAO DGP) have put forward the rules for the transport of sodium ion batteries.

UN TDG

In December 2021, a meeting of the UN Group on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN TDG) approved revised regulatory requirements for sodium-ion batteries. It is proposed to amend the Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and the Manual of Tests and Standards to include the requirements related to sodium ion batteries in these two documents.

1. Sodium-ion batteries shall be assigned a transport number and special transport name in the Recommendation on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: UN3551 single sodium-ion batteries; UN3552- Sodium ion batteries installed in or packaged with equipment.

2. Extend the testing requirements of section UN38.3 in the Manual of Tests and Criteria to include sodium-ion batteries. That is, the test requirements of UN38.3 should be met before transportation of sodium-ion batteries.

ICAO TI

In October this year, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Dangerous Goods Expert Group (ICAO DGP) also published a new draft Technical Specification (TI), which includes the requirement for sodium-ion batteries. Sodium-ion batteries must be numbered in accordance with UN3551 or UN3552 and meet the requirements of UN38.3. These regulations will be considered for inclusion in the 2025-2026 version of TI.

The revised TI document will be adopted in the DGR prepared by the International Aviation Organization (IATA), which indicates that sodia-ion batteries will be included in the air cargo control in 2025 or 2026.

MCM tip

To sum up, sodium-ion batteries, like lithium batteries, shall meet the test requirements of UN38.3 before transportation.

Recently, the first Sodium-ion battery industry chain and standard Development Forum was held in Beijing, showing the research and development status of sodium-ion battery from various aspects of the industry chain. At the same time, the future of sodium-ion battery is full of expectations, and a series of standardization plans related to sodium-ion battery in the future are listed. Will refer to the lithium ion battery standard system, gradually improve the standard work of sodium ion battery.

MCM will continue to pay close attention to the transportation regulations, standards and industry chain of sodium ion batteries, to provide you with the latest information.