When preparing batteries for shipping, examine the Watt-hours rating, which indicates the battery energy capacity. Higher Watt-hour batteries require greater precautions. Check the State of Charge (SOC), which is the percentage of available power. IATA regulations say that for air transport, the SOC should never exceed 30%.
All stakeholders involved in the carriage of Lithium-Ion Batteries in containers are asked to carefully review these Guidelines to determine if they can be implemented and applied to their specific operations and requirements.
Related to these power supplies are lithium metal batteries, also known as primary batteries or non-chargeable lithium batteries. While you can ship both of these types of power sources, you must take special precautions to prevent them from shorting and catching on fire during transit.
Batteries can be shipped on all main modes of transportation used in logistics: air, ocean, road, and rail. However, there are some different regulations and requirements depending on the mode of transport. Below we cover general guidelines applicable to all transport modes, but check the following dangerous goods regulations for specific info:
From electric vehicles to laptops to massive grid storage systems, the demand for batteries is growing. And so is the need to ship batteries safely and efficiently. But hold up! You can’t just toss lithium batteries in a box and call it a day. Transporting batteries is a serious business.
Throughout the supply chain from the acquisition of chemicals to their use in Li-ion batteries, the materials will often require storage, occasionally in the same containers used for transport.