Japanese Industry Associations Release Lithium-Ion Battery Guidelines

Two Japanese industry associations – the Japan Electronics & Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) and the Battery Association of Japan (BAJ) – jointly released new safety guidelines that emphasize avoiding high-voltage charging, and include steps for battery cell and package design and safety procedures. The guidelines were issued in response to well-publicized overheating problems involving lithium-ion batteries manufactured by Sony and other companies.

According to the guidelines, overheating problems occur at high charge voltages and in the mixing of foreign substances in battery cells. Accordingly, the guidelines stress the importance of avoiding voltages higher than the rated voltage set by battery manufacturers, implying that high-speed charging using higher than rated voltages should be avoided.