EN IEC 61960 Secondary Lithium Cells and Batteries for Portable Applications

The standard “EN IEC 61960 Secondary lithium cells and batteries for portable applications”, which is based on a European standard and subsequently published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), consists of the following subsections published under the same title:

• The standard "EN IEC 61960-1 Part 1: Secondary lithium cells" describes the performance and safety testing, identification, marking, dimensions, and other requirements for secondary lithium single-cell batteries. The purpose of this standard is to provide secondary lithium cell buyers with a set of criteria by which they can evaluate the performance and safety of various secondary lithium cells offered by various manufacturers.

This standard defines the minimum required performance and safety levels and a standard methodology for performing tests and reporting the results to the user. This allows users to determine the applicability of commercially available cells based on the declared specifications and thus select the most suitable cell for their intended application.

This standard covers secondary lithium cells with various chemical properties. Each electrochemical couple has a characteristic voltage range over which it releases its electrical capacity during discharge, a characteristic nominal voltage, and a characteristic final voltage. Users of secondary lithium cells and batteries are requested to consult the manufacturer for advice.

For the avoidance of doubt, the scope of this standard does not cover secondary lithium batteries as covered in IEC 61960-2.

• The standard "EN IEC 61960-2 Part 2: Secondary lithium batteries" describes the performance and safety testing, identification, marking, dimensions, and other requirements for lithium secondary batteries. The purpose of this standard is to provide buyers and users of lithium secondary batteries with a set of criteria by which they can evaluate the performance and safety of different lithium secondary batteries offered by different manufacturers.

This standard defines minimum performance and safety requirements and a standardized methodology for conducting tests and presenting the results to the user. Users can then assess the applicability of commercially available batteries based on the declared specifications, enabling them to select the most suitable battery for their intended application.

This standard covers lithium secondary cells in a wide variety of electrochemical couples. Each electrochemical couple has a characteristic voltage range over which it recovers its stored capacity during discharge, a characteristic nominal voltage, and a characteristic final voltage. Users of lithium storage batteries are advised to seek advice from the manufacturer. For the avoidance of doubt, the scope of this standard does not cover lithium storage cells covered by IEC 61960-1.

• The standard "EN IEC 61960-3 Part 3: Prismatic and cylindrical lithium secondary cells and batteries made thereof" specifies the performance tests, identification, marking, dimensions, and other requirements for secondary lithium single cells and batteries for portable applications. The purpose of this standard is to provide buyers and users of secondary lithium cells and batteries with a set of criteria by which they can evaluate the performance of secondary lithium cells and batteries offered by various manufacturers.

Portable applications include handheld equipment, portable equipment, and mobile equipment. Key use cases include:

• Handheld equipment: Smartphone, tablet PCs, audio/video players and similar equipment
• Portable equipment: Laptops, CD players, and similar equipment
• Moving equipment:
  • Have a mass of 18 kg or less and are not secured, or
  • Equipped with wheels, wheelchairs or other means to facilitate movement by an ordinary person as necessary to achieve its intended use,
  • Power tools, power-assisted bicycles, commercial video cameras and similar equipment.

All applications using batteries with a nominal voltage equal to or greater than the hazardous voltage of 60 Volts DC are excluded. Electrical energy storage systems and uninterruptible power supplies using more than 500 W of electrical power are excluded. Self-propelled vehicles are also excluded.

This standard defines the minimum required performance level and a standard methodology for performing tests and reporting the results to the user. Therefore, users can determine the applicability of commercially available cells and batteries based on the declared specifications and thus select the most suitable cell or battery for their intended application.

The end user may only use batteries that fully meet all the requirements of this standard and other safety-related standards, such as IEC 62133-2. This standard covers secondary lithium cells and batteries with various chemical properties. Each electrochemical couple has a characteristic voltage range over which it releases its electrical capacity during discharge, a characteristic nominal voltage, and a characteristic final voltage. Users of secondary lithium cells and batteries are requested to consult the manufacturer for advice.

• The standard "EN IEC 61960-4 Part 4: Secondary lithium cells and batteries manufactured therefrom" describes the performance tests, identification, marking, dimensions, and other requirements for coin-cell secondary lithium cells and batteries for backup power sources such as portable applications, watches, and memory backup applications. Specific requirements for watches are specified in Annex A.

This standard provides buyers and users of coin-operated secondary lithium cells and batteries with a set of criteria by which they can evaluate the performance of coin-operated secondary lithium cells and batteries offered by various manufacturers. It defines the minimum required performance level and a standardized methodology for conducting tests and reporting the results to the user. This allows users to determine the applicability of commercially available cells and batteries based on the declared specifications and thus select the most suitable cell or battery for their intended application.

This standard covers coin-cell secondary lithium cells and batteries with a variety of chemical properties. Each electrochemical couple has a characteristic voltage range over which it releases its electrical capacity during discharge, a characteristic nominal voltage, and a characteristic end-of-discharge voltage. Users of coin-cell secondary lithium cells and batteries are requested to consult the manufacturer for advice. This standard also provides guidance for designers of equipment using lithium batteries (Annex B).

The EN IEC 61960 standards are important because they provide internationally accepted specifications and test methods for secondary lithium cells and batteries used in portable applications. The key reasons for these standards are:

• Standardized battery performance: These standards define how to measure and report battery performance characteristics such as:
  • Rated capacity
  • Voltage
  • Charge and discharge performance
  • Cycle life
  • Storage performance

This standardization allows manufacturers, designers, and users to reliably compare batteries regardless of brand.

• Ensures safety and reliability: These standards outline test methods for the safety and reliability of lithium-ion cells and batteries. These tests reduce the risk of:
  • Overheating
  • Short circuits
  • Fire or explosion

Following this set of standards helps manufacturers design batteries that meet global safety expectations.

• Global compatibility: These standards, due to their international nature, facilitate:
  • Global trade by providing consistent benchmarking
  • Regulatory approval in various countries requiring compliance with international norms
• Used in consumer electronics: The EN IEC 61960 series of standards is particularly important for portable applications, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, power banks, and the like. Manufacturers of these devices rely on these standards to identify and validate the batteries they use.
• Supports quality control and certification: By defining clear criteria for battery testing, they aid quality control processes in production. These standards are often a requirement for third-party certifications (such as CE marking).

Our organization, which has been operating for many years and meticulously follows global developments in science and technology, employs a team of experienced professionals and a broad infrastructure to conduct testing, measurement, and analysis in a wide range of areas for businesses across all sectors. In this context, we also provide testing services in accordance with the EN IEC 61960 Secondary lithium cells and batteries for portable applications standard.