UN R100 — 05 series of amendments

New paragraph 2.57. defines “alkali metal anodes” as negative electrodes of the battery cells which are based on lithium, sodium, or potassium. The thermal propagation requirements of paragraph 6.15. now apply to a REESS containing flammable electrolyte or alkali metal anodes. Paragraph 6.15. does not apply to REESS solely installed on category O vehicles, nor to batteries on category O vehicles used for recuperation only. For REESS other than open-type traction battery, paragraph 6.12.3. adds paragraph 6.15. on thermal propagation to its list of tests. New paragraph 2.56. defines “common space” as an area on which two or more information functions may be displayed but not simultaneously. In paragraph 6.4.2.3., item (c1) now refers to paragraph 6.4.2.1.1., and item (c2) to paragraph 6.4.2.1.2. or paragraph 6.4.2.2.

Paragraph 6.15.1. covers a thermal propagation triggered by an internal short circuit leading to a single cell thermal runaway. In this event, the REESS or vehicle system must give a signal to activate the warning of paragraph 5.2.3., to allow egress. This requirement is deemed to be met if one of the conditions in items (a), (b) and (c) is satisfied. Under item (a), no hazardous situation, as defined by the pass/fail criteria in paragraph 6.15.3.4., occurs within 5 minutes following the warning signal. In case of conditions (b) or (c), the warning indication is not mandatory. Paragraph 6.15.2. now says “in the cell, REESS or vehicle” instead of “in the cell or REESS”.

Conformance is shown by physical testing, or by risk management analysis when physical testing is deemed not possible without compromising the REESS safety design. The Type Approval Authority and the Technical Service determine this with the help of documentation provided by the manufacturer. A REESS designed to be charged only by an on-vehicle energy source, up to 2 kWh (Ah × nominal voltage), needs only risk management analysis. For the trigger method, the Technical Service considers localized fast external heating first. Physical test pass criteria: for 5 minutes after the warning signal, thermal propagation must not cause fire, explosion or smoke release into the passenger compartment. If no thermal propagation is observed during the 2 hours after thermal runaway was triggered in the initiation cell, the pass criteria are deemed met.

If applicable or required under paragraph 6.15.3., the manufacturer must perform and document a risk assessment. It considers occupant protection in normal operating conditions as defined in paragraph 2.31. The manufacturer must make available a high-level report in four parts, for paragraphs 6.15.4.1. to 6.15.4.4., to the Type Approval Authority and Technical Service. Footnote 4 is now on paragraph 6.15.4.4. and says that the manufacturer will be accountable for the verity and integrity of the documentation. Where information is shown to be covered by intellectual property rights or to be specific know-how, paragraph 3.4. requires sufficient information for the correct verifications. Under paragraph 3.5., the formal documentation package and material available for inspection must remain available for at least 10 years after production is definitively discontinued.

New Annex 9K gives the thermal propagation test. Its purpose is occupant safety in a vehicle when a forced thermal runaway of a cell in the REESS is triggered. The manufacturer chooses, in agreement with the Technical Service, a test with a complete vehicle, the complete REESS or REESS subsystem(s). Appendices 1 to 4 describe four trigger methods: a localized rapid external heater, an internal heater, nail penetration and a laser-based trigger. The trigger method must not affect the adjacent cell(s). Each appendix gives a test procedure for the vehicle-based test and for the component-based test.

New Part III (paragraph 7.) gives the requirements for the installation of an approved REESS for the purpose of a vehicle approval. New paragraph 5.2.2.2. says that smoke caused by thermal propagation must not be released into the passenger compartment. A design review of the intended venting strategy of the REESS and its installation verifies this requirement. New paragraph 6.16. requires that the REESS and vehicle are compatible with regard to their communication. Former paragraphs 7. to 11. are now paragraphs 8. to 12. Two RegVault Notes explain references that the 05 series did not amend after it renumbered or deleted paragraphs; the official text is reproduced as printed.

From 1 September 2027, Contracting Parties applying this Regulation are not obliged to accept type approvals to any preceding series first issued after that date. Until 1 September 2029, they must accept type approvals to any preceding series first issued before 1 September 2027, if their transitional provisions foresee this. As from 1 September 2029, they are not obliged to accept type approvals to any preceding series, except under paragraphs 13.4.5. and 13.4.6. Until 1 September 2030, they must accept 03 (subject to 13.3.5.) or 04 series approvals applying paragraph 6.15.1.(a), first issued before 1 September 2027. They must also continue to accept 03 (subject to 13.3.5.) or 04 series approvals for vehicles/vehicle systems not affected by the 05 series changes. In the Annex 2 examples, the first two digits of the approval number are now 05, for the 05 series of amendments.