The UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) on the TDG (Transport of Dangerous Goods) has published the 23rd revised version of the Model Regulations for Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. A new revised version of the Model Regulations is issued every two years. Compared with version 22, the battery has the following changes:

Chapter 2.9.2 Assignment to Class 9 is added

3551 SODIUM ION BATTERIES with organic electrolyte

3552 SODIUM ION BATTERIES CONTAINED IN EOUIPMENT Or SODIUM ION BATTERIESPACKED WITH EOUIPMENT, with organic electrolyte

3556 VEHICLE, LITHIUM ION BATTERY POWERED

3557 VEHICLE, LITHIUM METAL BATTERY POWERED

3558 VEHICLE, SODIUM ION BATTERY POWERED

Chapter 2.9.5 Sodium ion batteries is added

Cells and batteries, cells and batteries contained in equipment, or cells and batteries packed with equipment containing sodium ion, which are a rechargeable electrochemical system where the positive and negative electrode are both intercalation or insertion compounds, constructed with no metallic sodium (or sodium alloy) in either electrode and with an organic non aqueous compound as electrolyte, shall be assigned to UN Nos. 3551 or 3552 as appropriate.

Note: Intercalaled sodium exists in an ionic or quasi-atomic form in the lattice of the electrode material.

They may be transported under these entries if they meet the following provisions:

a) Each cell or battery is of the type proved to meet the requirements of applicable tests of the Manual of Tests and Criteria, part Ill, sub-section 38.3.

b) Each cell and battery incorporates a safety venting device or is designed to preclude a violent rupture under conditions normally encountered during transport;

c) Each cell and battery is equipped with an effective means of preventing external short circuits;

d) Each battery containing cells or a series of cells connected in parallel is equipped with effective means as necessary to prevent dangerous reverse current flow (e.g., diodes, fuses, etc.);

e) Cells and batteries shall be manufactured under a quality management program as prescribed under 2.9.4 (e) (i) to (ix);

f) Manufacturers and subsequent distributors of cells or batteries shall make available the test summary as specified in the Manual of Tests and Criteria, part Ill, sub-section 38.3, paragraph 38.3.5.

Dangerous Goods List is added

The special provisions corresponding to 3551 SODIUM ION BATTERIES with organic electrolyte are 188/230/310/348/360/376/377/384/400/401, and the corresponding packing guides are P903/P908/P909/P910/P911/LP903/LP904/LP905/LP906.

The special provisions corresponding to 3552 SODIUM ION BATTERIES CONTAINED IN EOUIPMENT Or SODIUM ION BATTERIESPACKED WITH EOUIPMENT, with organic electrolyte are P903/P908/P909/P910/P911/LP903/LP904/LP905/LP906, and the corresponding packing guides are P903/P908/ P909/P910/P911/LP903/LP904/LP905/LP906.

The special provisions corresponding to 3556 VEHICLE, LITHIUM ION BATTERY POWERED are 384/388/405, and the corresponding packing guide is P912.

The special provisions corresponding to 3557 VEHICLE, LITHIUM METAL BATTERY POWERED are 384/388/405, and the corresponding packing guide is P912.

The special provisions corresponding to 3558 VEHICLE, SODIUM ION BATTERY POWERED are 384/388/404/405, and the corresponding packing guide is P912.

Special provisions applicable to certain articles or substances are added

400: Sodium ion cells and batteries and sodium ion cells and batteries contained in or packed with equipment, prepared and offered for transport, are not subject to other provisions of these Regulations if they meet the following:

a) The cell or battery is short-circuited, in a way that the cell or battery does notcontain electrical energy. The short-circuiting of the cell or battery shall be casily verifiable (eg, busbar between terminals):

b) Each cell or battery meets the provisions of 2.9.5 (a), (b), (d), (e) and (f);

c) Each package shall be marked according to 5.2.1.9;

d) Except when cells or batteries are installed in equipment, each package shall be capable of withstanding a 1.2 m drop test in any orientation without damage to cells or batteries contained therein, without shifting of the contents so as to allow battery to battery (or cell to cell) contact and without release of contents;

e) Cells and batteries, when installed in equipment shall be protected from damage. When batteries are installed in equipment, the equipment shall be packed in strong outer packagings constructed of suitable material of adequate strength and design in relation to the packaging’s capacity and its intended use unless the battery is afforded equivalent protection by the equipment in which it is contained;

f) Each cell, including when it is a component of a battery, shall only contain dangerous goods that are authorized to be transported in accordance with the provisions of chapter 3.4 and in a quantity not exceeding the quantity specified in column 7a of the Dangerous Goods List of chapter 3.2.

401: Sodium ion cells and batteries with organic electrolyte shall be transported as UN Nos.3551 or 3552, as appropriate. Sodium ion cells and batteries with aqueous alkali electrolyte shall be transported as UN 2795 BATTERIES, WET FILLED WITHALKALI electric storage.

404: Vehicles powered by sodium ion batteries, containing no other dangerous goods, are not subject to other provisions of these Regulations. If the battery is short-circuited in a way that the battery does not contain electrical energy, the short-circuiting of the battery shall be easily verifiable (e.g, busbar between terminals).

405: Vehicles are not subject to the marking or labelling requirements of chapter 5.2 when they are not fully enclosed by packagings, crates or other means that prevent ready identification.

Chapter 4.1.4 List of Packing Instructions is added

The vehicle shall be secured in a strong, rigid outer packaging constructed of suitable material, and of adequate strength and design in relation to the packaging capacity and its intended use. It shall be constructed in such a manner as to prevent accidental operation during transport. Packagings need not meet the requirements of 4.1.1.3. The vechicle shall be secured by means capable of restraining the vehicle in the outer packaging to prevent any movement during transport which would change the orientation or cause the battery in the vehicle to be damaged.Vehicles transported in a packaging may have some parts of the vehicle, other than the battery, detached from its frame to fit into the packaging.

NOTE: The packagings may exceed a net mass of 400 kg (see 4. 1.3.3). Vehicles with an individual net mass of 30 kg or more:

a) can be loaded into crates or secured to pallets;

b) can be transported unpackaged providing that the vehicle is capable of remaining upright during transport without additional support and the vehicle provides adequate protection to the battery so that no damage to the battery can occur; or

c) where the vehicles have the potential to topple over during transport (e.g. motor cycles), may be transported unpackaged in a cargo transport unit fitted with the means to prevent toppling in transport, such as by the use of bracing, frames or racking.