Battery Testing: UN38.3

MGA Research is a leader in performance, safety, and environmental battery testing, recognized by our commitment to precision, innovation, and safety in evaluating battery performance across various industries. At the core of MGA’s capabilities, our three battery testing facilities are equipped with advanced equipment and operated by highly skilled engineers and technicians. These facilities are designed to conduct a wide range of tests that meet specific industry standards and regulatory requirements, each with their own specialty. 

Some of the most critical safety validation tests performed on lithium batteries are dedicated to ensuring that batteries of all sizes and stages of assembly are safe during transportation, whether for distribution or further assembly. The United Nations (UN) Manual of Tests and Criteria, Section 38.3 (“UN38.3”) tests are focused on ensuring battery safety during transportation.

 MGA Advantage

MGA utilizes a network of three battery test facilities for UN38.3 validation, each with unique expertise, to provide the following advantages to our customer base:

• Dedicated test facilities for each stage of the battery: cell, module, and full pack/vehicle.
• ISO 17025:2017 accreditation for UN 38.3 testing on batteries of all sizes.
• Wide range of capability including cycling, durability, vibration, environmental exposure, and abuse on cells and packs ranging in size from a few watts to 100+ kW packs.
• World class battery abuse testing facilities and equipment, much of which is MGA designed and manufactured. (LINK – battery equipment)
• Over 20 years of battery and electric vehicle experience, dating back to the earliest NHTSA EV testing.

UN38.3 Overview

UN38.3 battery testing refers to a series of rigorous safety tests required by the United Nations for lithium batteries to ensure they can be safely transported, particularly by air. MGA’s test facilities are ISO 17025 accredited for UN38.3 testing. These tests include:

• T1: Altitude Simulation - Exposes the battery to low pressure (simulating high altitude) to ensure it doesn't leak, vent, or rupture.
• T2: Thermal Test - Subjects the battery to rapid temperature cycling between extreme hot and cold to assess its stability under thermal stress.
• T3: Vibration Test - Simulates the vibrations a battery might experience during transportation to ensure it remains intact and functional.
• T4: Shock Test - Applies sudden mechanical shock to the battery to test its resilience against impacts.
• T5: External Short Circuit - Simulates an external short circuit to verify the battery’s ability to withstand it without causing fire or explosion.
• T6: Impact/Crush - For small batteries, an impact test simulates a crush scenario to ensure safety under mechanical stress.
• T7: Overcharge - Overcharges the battery to see if it can handle excessive charging without failure.
• T8: Forced Discharge - Forces a discharge on the battery to check its safety under this abnormal condition.