Comprehensive Overview of Industry Standards for Lithium Battery Packs in China

Regulatory Framework and Compliance Requirements

The lithium battery pack industry in China operates under a stringent regulatory framework designed to ensure safety, environmental protection, and technological advancement. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has issued the "Lithium-ion Battery Industry Specification Conditions," which serve as a guiding document for enterprises to achieve standardized development. These conditions emphasize compliance with national laws and regulations related to resource utilization, environmental protection, energy conservation, and safety production. Enterprises must adhere to national industrial policies, relevant industrial planning, and layout requirements, as well as local land use planning and environmental protection special planning.

One of the key compliance requirements is the prohibition of constructing lithium-ion battery and supporting projects in areas designated as permanent basic farmland, ecological protection red lines, or regions where industrial enterprises are prohibited by national laws and regulations. Existing enterprises in these areas are required to close down or strictly control their scale and gradually relocate. Additionally, enterprises are encouraged to reduce projects that solely expand production capacity and instead focus on technological innovation, quality improvement, and cost reduction.

Production and Technological Standards

Enterprise Qualifications and Capabilities

Enterprises must meet specific qualifications to operate in the lithium battery pack industry. They must be legally registered in China with independent legal person status and possess independent production, sales, and service capabilities for lithium-ion battery industry-related products. Enterprises are required to allocate at least 3% of their annual主营业务收入 (main business revenue) to research and development and process improvement. Encouragement is given to obtaining qualifications such as provincial-level independent research and development institutions, engineering laboratories, technology centers, or high-tech enterprise status. Major products must hold technological invention patents, and the actual production volume in the year prior to application must not be less than 50% of the actual production capacity for the same year.

Process Control and Precision Requirements

The production process of lithium battery packs demands high precision and strict control. Monomer battery enterprises must have the capability to monitor the uniformity of electrode coating, with control precision for electrode coating thickness and length reaching or exceeding 2μm and 1mm, respectively. They must also possess the technology to control water content during production, with a precision of 10ppm or better, and maintain a dew point temperature of ≤-30℃ during the injection process. Battery assembly must include online detection capabilities for internal short circuits using high-potential (HI-POT) tests. Battery pack enterprises, on the other hand, must have the ability to assess the consistency of monomer battery open-circuit voltage and internal resistance, with measurement precision reaching or exceeding 1mV and 1mΩ, respectively. They must also possess online detection capabilities for battery pack protection device functions and electrostatic protection.

Product Performance and Safety Specifications

Battery Performance Metrics

The performance of lithium battery packs is evaluated based on several key metrics, including energy density, cycle life, and capacity retention. For consumer-type batteries, the energy density of monomer batteries must be ≥260Wh/kg, and battery packs must have an energy density of ≥200Wh/kg. The cycle life should be ≥800 times with a capacity retention rate of ≥80%. Power-type batteries are categorized into small power-type and large power-type batteries, each with specific energy density and cycle life requirements. For instance, large power-type energy batteries using ternary materials must have a monomer battery energy density of ≥230Wh/kg and a battery pack energy density of ≥165Wh/kg, with a cycle life of ≥1500 times and a capacity retention rate of ≥80%.

Storage-type batteries have even higher performance requirements, with monomer battery energy density ≥155Wh/kg and battery pack energy density ≥110Wh/kg. The cycle life must be ≥6000 times for monomer batteries and ≥5000 times for battery packs, both with a capacity retention rate of ≥80%.

Safety and Quality Management

Safety is paramount in the lithium battery pack industry. Enterprises must comply with the "Safety Technical Specification for Lithium-ion Batteries for Portable Electronic Equipment" (GB 31241), "Safety Requirements for Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles" (GB 38031), and other relevant mandatory standards. They are encouraged to develop and implement product technical standards or specifications that exceed national or industry standards.

A robust quality management system is essential for ensuring product safety and reliability. Enterprises must establish a quality management system that includes quality control processes, procedures for preventing and detecting internal and external short circuits, trial data, and quality records. They should set up a quality inspection department and appoint full-time inspectors. Encouragement is given to obtaining third-party quality management system certification. Additionally, enterprises must implement product coding and establish a full life cycle traceability system to enhance producer responsibility extension.

Environmental Protection and Resource Utilization

Environmental Compliance and Pollution Control

Enterprises in the lithium battery pack industry must comply with national environmental protection laws and regulations, including obtaining environmental impact assessment approvals for construction projects and implementing the "three simultaneous" system for environmental protection facilities. They must apply for and obtain pollutant discharge permits, manage solid waste generated during production in accordance with the law, and ensure that industrial pollutants are discharged up to standard. The solvent recovery rate should be ≥90%.

Resource Conservation and Energy Efficiency

Resource conservation and energy efficiency are key considerations in the industry. Enterprises must formulate product unit consumption indicators and energy consumption records, and they are prohibited from using equipment and production processes that are eliminated by the state due to severe environmental pollution. Encouragement is given to adjusting the energy structure, using clean energy such as photovoltaics, and conducting research on energy-saving technology applications. The comprehensive energy consumption per unit product for lithium-ion battery production enterprises should be ≤400kgce/10,000Ah.

Transportation and Disposal Regulations

Transportation Safety Requirements

The transportation of lithium battery packs must comply with the requirements of Section III, Part 38.3 of the UN "Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods—Tests and Standards Manual." Enterprises must adhere to the relevant laws, regulations, and standards for different modes of transportation, such as aviation, rail, road, and water transport. For the export of lithium-ion batteries, the packaging must comply with the requirements of the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection" and its implementation regulations.

Disposal and Recycling Management

The design, production, storage, loading, use, recycling, and disposal of lithium battery packs must comply with relevant laws, regulations, and standard specifications to ensure safety control measures are effectively implemented. Enterprises should establish an environmental management system and are encouraged to obtain third-party environmental management system certification. They should also continuously carry out cleaner production audits, with cleaner production indicators preferably reaching Level III or above in the "Battery Industry Cleaner Production Evaluation Index System."