UPS limits delivery of Li ion batteries to some locations.

[wb9k]

See the link to the UPS website that explains:

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/about/news/service_updates/20150504_ion_batteries.html

 

[dnmun]

has anyone ever investigated the possibility of just discharging the batteries before shipping to reduce the risk?

is there some reason that shipping lifepo4 cells at 0-1% SOC is damaging?

the problem with the lipo appears to be that when a bulk shipment has one pouch short out then it makes so much heat that it forces the other pouches around it to go into thermal runaway and the entire bulk load of pouches goes into thermal runaway.

i would not expect this to be feasible if the lifepo4 was discharged since the lifepo4 requires a much higher critical temperature to go into thermal runaway from my reading.

 

[wb9k]

has anyone ever investigated the possibility of just discharging the batteries before shipping to reduce the risk?

is there some reason that shipping lifepo4 cells at 0-1% SOC is damaging?

the problem with the lipo appears to be that when a bulk shipment has one pouch short out then it makes so much heat that it forces the other pouches around it to go into thermal runaway and the entire bulk load of pouches goes into thermal runaway.

i would not expect this to be feasible if the lifepo4 was discharged since the lifepo4 requires a much higher critical temperature to go into thermal runaway from my reading.

You're correct (IMO) that this should be a usable workaround. Unfortunately, I've tried this approach before (this was a return with a mechanical damage claim, and we had allowed for TOTAL discharge and a shorting bar put across the module) and was unsuccessful because the regulations don't describe the workaround or any method for shippers to recognize when the "risk of thermal excursion" has been alleviated. You may be able to do this if you can persuade a shipper to trust what you are telling them. Obviously in our case the risk of fire was absolutely zero, and it didn't matter. "But the rules say....." is what you'll probably get back.