LaTanya Schwalb UL Solutions

1. © 2023 UL LLC. All rights reserved.
UL Standards and
EV Battery
Life Cycle
Supporting the life cycle of EV batteries
LaTanya Schwalb, Principal Engineer, UL Solutions
March 14, 2023
EIA23EV828650

2. UL LLC © 2023. All rights reserved.
We are now
UL Solutions
New brand. Same mission.
Evolving safety science, exploring the world's
pressing challenges and continuing to empower
our customers to innovate with confidence.
ULS22CS458635

3. Topics
3
Installation codes and repurposed batteries
UL 2580, the Standard for Batteries for Use In Electric Vehicles
UL 1974, the Standard for Evaluation for Repurposing Batteries
UL 1973, the Standard for Batteries for Use in Stationary and
Motive Auxiliary Power Applications
Summary
EIA23EV828650

4. Installation codes and
repurposed batteries
5
EIA23EV828650

5. Code criteria for battery
energy storage systems
(BESS)
Repurposed batteries – NPFA 855
3.3.22 Repurposed battery – A battery that was
used in one application in the field that is subject to
some level of analysis and reconfiguration for use in
an ESS application.
9.2.4.2 – Batteries previously used in other
applications, such as electric vehicle propulsion,
shall not be permitted unless the equipment is
repurposed by a UL 1974-compliant battery
repurposing company when reused in ESS
applications and the system complies with 4.6.1.
4.6.1 Listings – ESS shall be listed in accordance
with UL 9540, unless specifically exempted in other
sections of this standard.
A.9.2.4.2 – A battery that goes through this process
is not a listed battery unless it is additionally
evaluated to a safety standard such as UL 1973.
6
EIA23EV828650

6. Code criteria for BESS
Reused and Repurposed Equipment:
International Fire Code 2021 (IFC)
Chapter 1207.3.9 Reused and repurposed
equipment. Equipment and materials shall only
be reused or reinstalled as permitted in section
104.8.1. Storage batteries previously used in
other applications, such as electric vehicle
propulsion, shall not be reused in applications
regulated by Chapter 12 unless approved by the
fire code official and unless the equipment is
refurbished by a battery refurbishing company
approved in accordance with UL 1974.
7
EIA23EV828650

7. First life electric vehicle (EV) batteries
Cell requirements for li-ion cells
• Construction requirements
• Test requirements in Annex B or Annex D (alternate test
program)
Battery requirements
• Construction requirements
• Test requirements
• Safety analysis/FMEA
• Safety controls and functional safety
• Manufacturing/production line testing and production quality
9
UL 2580, the Standard for Batteries for Use In Electric Vehicles
EIA23EV828650

8. UL 2580 tests
Electrical
tests
Mechanical
tests
Environmental
tests
Tolerance to
internal cell
failure tests
Overcharge
Short circuit
Overdischarge
Imbalanced charging
Temperature
Failure of cooling/thermal stability system
Thermal cycling
Salt spray
Immersion
External fire exposure
Rotation
Vibration
Shock
Drop
Crush
EIA23EV828650

9. WHY EVALUATE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
MANUFACTURER (OEM) EV BATTERIES TO UL
2580?
Advantages to
OEMs
 Lays foundation for second life
application of EV battery under UL
1973 with a construction only
certification
 Achieve safety certification by
Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory
(NRTL)
 Create a path toward repurposing
11
EIA23EV828650

10. UL 1974 and battery
repurposing
12
EIA23EV828650

11. Evaluating and
repurposing batteries
• UL 1974 is a “manufacturing
process” Standard that looks at
the methods used to evaluate
batteries, modules, and cells
from used EV battery systems
(i.e., repurposing process) to
safety and performance
requirements.
• Assembled batteries need to
meet the end-product
requirements when reassembled
into a second-use battery (e.g.,
UL 1973 is used for stationary
batteries).
13
EIA23EV828650

12. UL 1974 evaluation program
Manufacturer
The organization responsible for the original
manufacturing of the battery or the specified
components, such as the component cells and
battery management system (BMS), sometimes
referred to as the original equipment
manufacturer (OEM).
Repurposing manufacturer (RM)
The organization responsible for the used
battery repurposing process.
15
EIA23EV828650

13. UL 1974 requirements
The Standard requires RMs to have a quality
control program
The repurposing manufacturer shall have sufficient
knowledge of the characteristics and handling of cells,
modules, battery packs/systems and/or BMS to perform
sorting and grading for repurposing and shall have
documented production process controls in place.
The process controls shall continually monitor and record
the following key elements of the repurposing
manufacturing process that can affect safety, and shall
include measured parametric limits enabling
corrective/preventative action to address defects (out of
limit parameters) found affecting these key elements:
a) Control of incoming parts, including used batteries.
b) Control of repurposing processes and data gathering.
c) Control of outgoing production.
d) Control of rejected parts.
16
EIA23EV828650

14. UL 1974 evaluation
Documentation useful for determining the state of health and understanding overall battery design and history
includes:
• Battery markings
• Schematics
• Battery specifications, instructions, including chemistry, and other
• Available literature on the battery’s previous life, any manuals including first responder manuals (often available
online)
• Battery construction and configuration
• The reason for a battery being taken out of service, date of removal from service
• Information on the BMS, if available
• Records of the battery fault/breakdown/abnormal conditions and maintenance, if available
• Storage condition after the battery has been taken from the vehicle, if available
18
EIA23EV828650

15. UL 1974 evaluation
Documentation on modules and cells is useful for understanding the state of health. Information that may be useful to
the process includes the following:
• Manufacturer and part number
• Markings, ratings
• Specifications, instructions and other available literature
• Module configuration and construction, including contents of module, schematics
• Date of manufacture
• Chemistry of the cells, weight, dimensions, etc.
• Cell specification sheet indicating ratings
• Safety test data/information on safety and tests, certifications, if available
• Cell construction (if not available, conduct disassembly of cell; IEEE 1725 and 1625 provide guidance)
20
EIA23EV828650

16. UL 1974 evaluation program
Rejection procedures
• Batteries taken out of service due to certain
exposure circumstances (e.g., vehicle
accidents, fires, etc.) affecting safety are to be
rejected.
• The RM shall identify performance issues,
physical signs of damage, etc., for rejection.
• Parts rejected for re-use shall be disposed of
according to RM’s procedures.
• Parts identified as not suitable for repurposing
shall not be reintroduced into the process.
Disposal of damaged and rejected parts
procedures
• Parts identified for rejection for repurposing
shall be documented and then disposed of per
RM’s process and per local regulations.
• The process shall identify those parts intended
for recycling as well.
• Parts rejected for re-use shall be disposed of
according to RM’s procedures.
• Parts identified as not suitable for repurposing
shall not be reintroduced into the process.
22
EIA23EV828650

17. Stationary battery systems
with repurposed batteries
23
• UL 1973, the Standard for Batteries for
Use in Stationary and Motive Auxiliary
Power Applications
– Allows for use of repurposed cells and
batteries from UL 1974 certified repurposing
facility.
– Repurposed cells and batteries subject to the
tests of UL 1973, as applicable.
– Battery systems with repurposed cells subject
to applicable tests of UL 1973.
– Electrical, mechanical, and environmental
tests.
– Tolerance to internal cell failure test.
– Battery system
– Battery systems using repurposed batteries
shall be marked “Repurposed” or “Second
Life” and “UL 1974.”
EIA23EV828650

18. UL 1973 tests
Electrical
tests
Mechanical
tests
Environmental
tests
Tolerance to
internal cell
failure tests
Overcharge
High-rate charge
Short circuit
Overload under
discharge
Overdischarge
Imbalanced charging
Temperature
Failure of
cooling/thermal stability
system
Resistance to moisture
Salt fog
External fire exposure for
projectile hazards
Static force
Impact
Drop
Mold stress
EIA23EV828650

19. WHY SELECT EV BATTERIES WITH A CONSTRUCTION
ONLY CERTIFICATION?
Benefits to
repurposers
 Construction requirements of UL
2580 are similar to UL 1973.
 Increased confidence in EV
battery’s construction for
compliance to ESS requirements.
 Reduces time to market by
70% to 80%.
25
EIA23EV828650
EIA23EV828650

20. How UL Standards
support repurposing
26
EIA23EV828650

21. UL Standards that address EV to ESS battery safety
27
• UL 2580, the Standard for Batteries
for Use in Electric Vehicles
• Compliance to this standard is not
mandatory for automotive OEMs.
• Some level of compliance to this
standard for the first life will
significantly reduce the time and
effort of second life repurposing
integration.
• UL 1973, Standard for Batteries for Use in
Stationary and Motive Auxiliary Power
Applications
• When lithium EV batteries come from
RMs and before they go into the built
environment, they must first comply with
this standard.
• If the OEM module complies with
UL 2580, compliance to this standard is
nearly seamless
Automotive OEM’s path to regulatory safety, and code compliance
OEM module first life Repurposing process Battery systems using
repurposed batteries
• UL 1974, the Standard for Evaluation
for Repurposing Batteries
• Evaluates the repurposing
manufacturer’s (RM) facility and
processes.
• Batteries must go through further
safety compliance to relevant battery
safety standards such as UL 1973.
Energy storage systems (ESS) using
repurposed batteries
• UL 9540, the Standard for Energy
Storage Systems and Equipment
• Most installation codes will require ESS to
comply with this standard when utilizing
repurposed batteries.
EIA23EV828650

22. © 2023 UL LLC. All rights reserved.
Thank you
UL.com/Solutions
EIA23EV828650