{"operation":"document","citation":"99-0070","title":"Delphi Automotive Systems — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1999-04-13","effective_on":null,"summary":"99-0070 response to Delphi Automotive Systems concerning 173.185.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0070.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0070.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0070","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990070.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\n400 Seventh Street, S.W\nof Transportation\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nResearch and\nAdministration\nSpecial Programs\nAPR | 3 1999\nMr. Dave McCullough\nRef. No: 99-0070\nDelphi Hazardous Materials Coordinator\nDelphi Automotive Systems\nP.O. Box 502650\nIndianapolis, Indiana 46256\nDear Mr. McCullough:\nThis is in response to your letter of February 25, 1999, requesting clarification on the shipment of\nlithium ion batteries under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180).\nSpecifically you ask for clarification of the requirements of § 173.185 as they relate to lithium ion\nbatteries. You state that the UN Recommendations for the Transport of Dangerous Goods has\nadopted a formula for determining equivalent lithium content for lithium ion batteries in Section\n38.3.3.2 which reads as follows:\nLithium content means the mass of lithium in the anode of a lithium metal or lithium alloy\ncell, which for a primary cell is measured when the cell.is in an undischarged state and\nfor a rechargeable cell is measured when the cell is fully charged, except in the case of a\nlithium-ion cell the lithium content is measured in terms of equivalent lithium content,\nwhich in grams is calculated to be 0.3 times the rated capacity in ampere hours.\nYou ask if this formula may be used for determining the size of lithium ion batteries under the\nprovisions of § 173.185. The answer is yes. This method for determining the equivalent lithium\ncontent for lithium ion batteries will be proposed for adoption into the HMR in a future rulemaking\naction.\nSincerely,\nSion to th\nDelmer F. Billings\nChief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n173.185\n990070\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n5 PAGES\nN Aerovironment Inc. IN CUmING\ncovEn\nILKER \"IKE\" BAYRAKTAR\nSALES AND NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT\nVICE PRESIDENT\nLavalle\n3173.185\n99-0070\nTo. Dr. Fenton Carey\n(202) 366-1194\nFax: (202) 366-3671\nPer our conversation attached pleare\nfind our permit renewal / upgrade /update\ndocument.\nWe really need your help to\nprocess for us (Delphi-E)\nspeed up the\nto be able to ship Lilo Batteries (!!!)\nto our customers aud\nto male\nright technology delivery. schade les\nVary respectfully\nw: (626) 357-9983 Ext.50!\nFax: (626) 357-9729\n\"re 2t99\nago: 1-800-397-4498\nResidans: (318) 842-5775\nTelephone 626/357-9983 • Telex 467 121, AEROVIR-C1 • FAX 626/359-9628\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nSENT BY:DELHI ENERGY & ENGINE: 2-25-89: 2:36/» ;\n3175794991\n818 357 9729: * 1/ 4\nDELPHI\nManagament Systems\nEningy & Engine\nDate: 2/25/44\nTo: IKE BAYRAKTAR\nFox: 626-357-9729\nPhone:\nFrom: MuRRaY SANDBERG\nFar: 317-579-4991\nPhone: 517-574-4961\nsubject: ApRIcatioN to D.OT. to sHip LitMum PoLymir BATTERIES\n• CC\nNumber of pages including cover sheet 4\nproblems with the receipt of this cransmission, please contact slaphanie Cline 917-578-3788 (8-352-3768)\nIKe,\nTHIS IS OUR APPLICAION WE DISCUSSED LASI WEEK.\nIF yOU NEED ADDITIONAL INFO, CALL ME.\n\"THAnk you for your Her??\nMusia\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nSENI BY DELHI ENCRY & EMINE: 2-25-99: 2:36:\n3175784331→\nDELPHI\nAutomaTNo gVutoma\n• February 25, 1999\nUS Department of Transportation\nResearch Special Programs.\nAdministration Office Of\nHazardous Materials Transportation\n400 Seventh Street S.W.\nWashington, DC. 20590\nAttantion: Approvals Division: Mr. James Jones\nRo: Approval To Ship Rechargeable Lichlum Battery Colle And Batteries\nDear Sir:\nTransportation. Office of Hazardous Materials Exemptions and Approvals,\nCA - 9110001.\nDue to new technology, engineering designs, potential applications both automotive and\nnon -automotive the configuration of the lithium call and battery has changed.\n•Anode - carboni polymer film laminated to a coppor massh grid.\nThe new configuration is as followe:\n• Cathode - manganene oxidel polymer film laminated to an aluminum mesh grid.\n•Eloctrolyte -lithium hexalluorophosphate salt in an organic ester carbonate midure.\n•Lithium - all of the lithium is in lonic form (no metallic lithium ). There is a total of\n14.417 grams of itium in the anodes and cathodes of each call and 57.67 grams of\nlithium in the battery.\n\"Package - hermatically agaled can with a 2 psi vent.\nAttached are dramingg of the cell and battery which ara Delphi Automotive confidential\nand proprietary.\nThie nom configuration does not comply with 48 CFR, HM 181, 173.185.\nNoncompliance is based on 173.185 E1 requirement. The new call configuration has\n14,417 grams which exceed the 12 grams maximum. However the new configuration\ndoes comply with 173.185 E2 requirement of 500 grams per battery maximum. The\ncortent of tihium in the cell and battery is computed using the current formula for\ndetermining \" equalivent\" lithium content.\nearns 5758 HopsaPoil P.D. Dus 580850 holmants tabana 45236 VIL\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\n2-26-1999 14: 4AM\nTHUN\nSEINI DI.UELENI LIVERUT & LIMINE: 2-20-Y9 2:3159 :\n9178784801-\n818 357 9729:# 3/ 4\n317-579-3332\nIn December of 1998 the UN commiliee For Dangerous Goods Panel met and has\nforwarded amendments to the International Civil Aviation Organization for review. The\nspecific amendment in question is Attachment 4, Amendments To The UN Model\nRagulations On The Transport Of Dangerous Goods (Document\n•ST/SG/AC. 10/11/Rev.2 ) Section 38, 38.3.3.2\n• Aggregate lithium content means the sum of the gramis of lithium content contained by\nthe cells comprising a battery.\n\"Equalivent ithium content is defined in the definition of lithlum content.\n•Large battery means a battery in which the aggregate whium content of all anodes.\nwhen fully charged, is more than 500 grams.\n•Large cell means a cell in which the lithium content of the anode, when fully charged,\nis more than 12 grams.\n*Lithium content means the mass of lichium in the anode of a lithium metai or ithlum\nalloy caff, which for a primary cell is measured when the cell is in an undischarged\nstate and for a rechargeable coll is measured when the call is fully charged, except in\nthe case of a lithiumrion cell the lithium content is measured in terme of equalivent\nlithium content, which in grams is calculated to be 0.3 times the rated capacity in\nampere hours.\n• Lithium-ion cell or battery means a rechargeable electrochamical call or battery in\nwhich the positive and negstive electrodes are both intercalation compounds\n(intercalated lithium exists in an ionic or quast-atoric form with the lattice of the\nelectrode material) constructed with no metallic Whium in either electrade.\n•Small battery means a battery composed of small celle, and in which aggregate\nlithium content of all call anodes, when fully charged, is not more than 500 grams.\n•Smail call means a cell in which the Whium content of the of the anode, when\nfully charged, is not more than 12 grams.\nWhen the above proposed ariendments are approved and entered into the regulations\nthe Delphi lithium-ion call will meet the requirements of 173.185 E1. The new cell\nconfiguration has a 38 ampere hour capacity which would calculate to 11.4 grams per\n(\ncell and 57.67 grams per beltery.\nIt appears that the amendment would be officially entered into the intomational and US\nFederal regulations in January 2001.\nThe ability to continue research and development processes, moet austomer\nrequirements, and remain competitive in the global marketplace is dependent on the\nability to ship the fithium-ion call and battery.\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\n3115194851-\n818 33/ 9129:8 4/ 4\nTherefore, Delphi Automotive Systems respectfully réquests approval to ship the\nlithium-ton cell and battery during the interim period from April, 1989 through\nJanuary, 2001. The shipments would be to domestic customers and\ninernational customers locatad in France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Japan, and\nLuxembourg.\nYour continued support of our requirements is appreciated. If you have any\nquestions, you can contact me on 317-579-3332 or fax 317-579-3402.\nRegards,\nDave McCullough\nDelphi Hazardous Material Coordinator","truncated":false,"body_characters":7867}