IEC 62660

IEC 62660
Title	IEC 62660
Status	Published
Language	English
Publisher	International Electrotechnical Commission

IEC 62660 IEC 62660 is an international technical standard for lithium-ion traction batteries for electric road vehicles developed and maintained by the International Electrotechnical Commission and related technical committees, widely referenced by manufacturers and regulators in Japan, Germany, United States, China, and France. The standard interrelates with regulatory and industry frameworks such as UNECE, SAE International, ISO 26262, CENELEC, and European Commission policy documents, and it informs battery work in corporate laboratories at Toyota, Volkswagen, Tesla, Inc., LG Chem, and Panasonic Corporation.

Overview

IEC 62660 provides standardized performance, safety, cycle life, and abuse test methods for lithium-ion cells used in traction applications, linking technical criteria used by organizations like Nissan, General Motors, BMW, Renault, and Hyundai Motor Company to harmonize evaluation across markets such as European Union, United States Department of Energy, and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan). The standard is referenced alongside standards from ISO, ASTM International, UL (Underwriters Laboratories), SAE J2464 and national regulations in policy discussions at International Energy Agency and academic collaborations including Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Tsinghua University.

Scope and Structure

IEC 62660 defines cell-level specifications for lithium-ion chemistry families and establishes test sequences and performance metrics commonly applied by manufacturers such as Samsung SDI, A123 Systems, Hitachi, Bosch, and Daimler AG. The structure aligns with hierarchical frameworks used by IEC Technical Committee 21, IEC Technical Committee 69, ISO/TC 22, IEC TC 21/MT 14 and other standards like IEC 61960 and IEC 62133, situating cell testing among system-level regulations addressed by UN ECE R100 and safety protocols taught at institutions such as Stanford University and ETH Zurich.

Technical Requirements and Test Methods

The standard prescribes electrical, mechanical, thermal, and environmental tests including charge/discharge cycling, calendar life, overcharge, short-circuit, thermal stability, vibration, and shock testing used by testing houses like TÜV Rheinland, SGS, Intertek, and DEKRA. Test methods are intended to be compatible with laboratory practices at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Fraunhofer Society, and corporate test rigs at Ford Motor Company, Volvo Cars, and Kia Corporation, and they reference instrumentation standards from IEC 60068 and metrology guidance from National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Parts and Editions

IEC 62660 is published in multiple parts and editions that separate cell performance from test protocols and safety criteria, paralleling edition updates made by organizations such as IEC Central Office and coordination with committees like ISO/TC 22/SC 21. Revisions reflect input from stakeholders including European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, and consortium research programs like Battery500, with each edition accounting for developments in chemistries investigated at University of California, Berkeley and Imperial College London.

Applications and Industry Adoption

Adoption of IEC 62660 spans original equipment manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Mitsubishi Motors, and Mazda Motor Corporation, component suppliers like Continental AG, Denso Corporation, and energy firms including Shell and BP. The standard is referenced in procurement and type-approval processes used by municipal fleets in cities like Oslo, Los Angeles, London, and Shanghai, and it influences battery module design choices investigated by research centers at CERN and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Development and Maintenance

Development is overseen by IEC technical committees with contributions from national committees representing British Standards Institution, Deutsches Institut für Normung, American National Standards Institute, Standards Australia, and Association Française de Normalisation; expert input often comes from industry consortia such as European Battery Alliance and collaborative projects funded by the European Commission and national research agencies like Japan Science and Technology Agency and National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Compliance and Certification Processes

Compliance with IEC 62660 is assessed through accredited testing laboratories and certification bodies such as UL Solutions, CSA Group, TÜV SÜD, and national accreditation bodies like UKAS and DAkkS, and results are used in regulatory filings with authorities such as Transport Canada and Ministry of Transport (New Zealand). Manufacturers integrate IEC 62660 test reports into quality systems aligned with ISO 9001, IATF 16949, and functional safety certification processes involving ISO 26262 to support market access in jurisdictions including Brazil, India, and South Korea.

Category:International Electrotechnical Commission standards