It is not abundantly clear – to us at least – which battery brands are behind the spate of lithium-ion fires. It is all well and good to say ‘stick with the original brand’. But when you are feeding your family delivering take-outs on an electric bicycle, price matters too. UL certification is brand-independent, and so we explore how it works.
Who Controls UL Certification of Lithium-Ion Batteries?
That’s a fair question and it deserves a straight answer. UL Solutions started out as Underwriters’ Electrical Bureau, under the umbrella of National Board of Fire Underwriters in 1894.
The company that became Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is now on a panel chosen by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Underwriters Laboratories became a U.S. public company in April 2024, after raising US$ 950 million. With an estimated worth of around U.S.$ 7 billion, we figure this company should be rock-solid.
What Does an Underwriters Laboratories Certificate Confirm?
Well first of all, the U.S. battery manufacturer was sufficiently confident in their product to voluntarily invite UL inspection. UL would in turn have:
- Reviewed subject lithium-ion batteries against its standards for performance, reliability and safety.
- Tested the separators to ensure safety and integrity meet its requirements, and protect consumers in today’s markets.
- Assisted manufacturers to optimize their own in-house testing capabilities, in order to be able to rectify concerns sooner.
The Nuts, Bolts and Scope of UL Battery Certification
Underwriters Laboratories previously tested lithium-ion batteries for portable consumer applications, under standard UL 1642. However, it subsequently extended UL certification to include motive, transportation, and stationary applications under standards UL 2271, 2580, and 1973.
This broader scope provides additional assurances of what consumers can expect from these certified lithium-ion batteries. This adds a significant measure of confidence in a market apparently wide open to untested, and potentially substandard products.
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