Skip to content

Retesting per Table 7

Clause 9.2 gives manufacturers a way to keep type approval after a partial change without re-running all 24 tests. Identify which condition in 9.1 was broken, look it up in Table 7, and run the supplemental tests in the right column.

How to use this page

  1. Find the condition you changed in the left column (matches the condition numbers in 9.1).
  2. The right column lists the test items you must re-run.
  3. If multiple conditions were broken, take the union of the test lists.
  4. Row 1 (cell/module change) overrides everything: any cell or module change requires all test items.

Clause 9.2 (preamble)

If partial changes occur in the battery pack or system, supplementary tests on the technical requirements related to the changed parameters may be conducted according to Table 7. After approval, the modified battery pack or system will be considered the same type, and there is no need to perform all tests again.

Table 7 — Supplemental Test Items for Partial Changes

# Equivalent condition that changed Additional tests required if condition NOT met
1 Same battery cell/module specifications and manufacturer All test items
2 Same enclosure material (metal/non-metal), outer contour, and mechanical structure Vibration, mechanical shock, simulated crash, compression, thermal shock, damp heat cycle, water immersion, external fire, salt spray, thermal propagation, bottom impact
3 Same installation method, same or increased number of mounting points, same mounting point positions, and same structural design of mounting points Vibration, mechanical shock, simulated crash, water immersion, bottom impact, compression
4 Same or ≤ 20 % reduction in energy within battery pack Vibration, water immersion, mechanical shock, simulated crash, compression, thermal propagation, overcharge protection, over-temperature protection, over-discharge protection, overcurrent protection, short-circuit protection, bottom impact
5 Same fixation and installation methods for battery cell/module Vibration, mechanical shock, simulated crash, compression, water immersion, bottom impact
6 Same thermal management system layout, operating method, and coolant Vibration, water immersion, mechanical shock, simulated crash, compression, thermal propagation, bottom impact
7 Same internal coolant channel layout, and same external coolant interface specifications Vibration, water immersion, mechanical shock, simulated crash, bottom impact
8 Same thermal insulation material Thermal propagation, external fire
9 Same number of battery cells/modules in series; or fewer in series with unchanged internal structure Vibration, water immersion, mechanical shock, simulated crash, compression, thermal propagation, overcharge protection, over-temperature protection, over-discharge protection, overcurrent protection, short-circuit protection, bottom impact
10 Same BMS hardware specification and manufacturer, same software version (unless changes do not affect battery safety), same protection parameters and thresholds in control software (e.g., same thermal protection/alarm strategies), same BMS manufacturer Over-temperature protection, short-circuit protection, overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, overcurrent protection, thermal propagation
11 No reduction in rated voltage or current capacity of electrical components Over-temperature protection, short-circuit protection, overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, overcurrent protection
12 Same or fewer high-voltage circuits in battery pack Over-temperature protection, short-circuit protection, overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, overcurrent protection, thermal propagation
13 Same quantity, specifications, and layout of service switches and high/low-voltage connectors Vibration, external fire, water immersion, short-circuit protection, overcurrent protection
14 Same quantity, specifications, and layout of pressure relief devices Vibration, external fire, thermal shock, damp heat cycle, water immersion, salt spray, thermal propagation
15 Same length and width within ± 1 % of nominal, and height within ± 5 % of nominal Vibration, water immersion, simulated crash, mechanical shock, compression, thermal propagation, bottom impact
16 Same battery pack mass within 90 % – 103 % of nominal value Vibration, water immersion
17 Symmetrical battery pack installation on vehicle, with mirrored outer structure and module layout Vibration, simulated crash, mechanical shock, external fire, compression, thermal shock, damp heat cycle, high altitude, water immersion, thermal propagation, bottom impact

Source: clause 9.2, Table 7 (PDF page 29).

Decision flow

Engineering interpretation (non-normative)

How to use Table 7 in practice when assessing whether a modified pack needs retest.

flowchart TD
    Start([Identify changes vs.<br/>originally certified pack]) --> Q1{Any condition<br/>9.1 a–q changed?}
    Q1 -->|no| SameType[Same type — no retest required]
    Q1 -->|yes| Q2[Look up each changed<br/>condition in Table 7 above]
    Q2 --> Q3{Equivalent<br/>condition met?}
    Q3 -->|yes for every changed item| SameType
    Q3 -->|no for some| Q4[Run additional tests<br/>per Table 7 column 2]
    Q4 --> Submit[Submit results<br/>to type-approval authority]
    Submit --> SameType

Patterns in the table

Engineering note (non-normative):

  • Mechanical changes (rows 2, 3, 5, 6, 15): consistently trigger the full mechanical block — vibration, mechanical shock, simulated collision, compression, plus immersion and bottom impact.
  • Electrical changes (rows 10, 11, 12): consistently trigger the protection block — over-temp, over-current, overcharge, over-discharge, external short.
  • Thermal-management changes (rows 6, 7, 8): always re-run thermal propagation; rows 6 and 8 also re-run external fire because the thermal pathway to surrounding cells depends on the cooling architecture and the insulation between cells.
  • BMS-only software changes (row 10): do not trigger the mechanical block at all — only protection and thermal propagation. This is the lightest qualifying change in the table.
  • Mass change (row 16): is the lightest physical change — only vibration and immersion.

Cross-reference

Source

Clause 9.2 and Table 7 (PDF page 29).