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Battery pack vibration testing rig durability quality control EV reliability standards
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2026-10-06 Testing + Certification

Safety Testing According to Battery and Product Standards

VDE supports you with accredited testing and certification services throughout the entire battery homologation process, from development and application to the safe transportation of your battery systems. This helps build confidence in your products across all relevant global markets.


Why Is Safety Testing Important?

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Standard-based safety testing is essential for batteries because it ensures that products are evaluated under defined and reproducible conditions, making safety performance reliable and comparable. Batteries store large amounts of energy; in the event of malfunction, damage, or misuse, they may release energy uncontrollably, generate excessive heat, catch fire, or even explode. Standards-based tests simulate exactly these critical scenarios, including short circuits, overcharging, mechanical stress, and extreme temperatures. They verify that the battery responds in a controlled manner and does not create a safety hazard.

In addition, standards-based testing is often a legal requirement or a prerequisite for market access, transportation approval, and certification. It provides a consistent framework for manufacturers, testing laboratories, and authorities worldwide while reducing risks throughout the entire value chain.


Our Services for Standards Compliance

Battery testing provides the foundation for reliably demonstrating safety, performance, and regulatory compliance.

VDE supports you throughout the entire testing process, from selecting the appropriate standards and conducting the required tests to evaluating results, preparing technical documentation, and achieving successful market approval. We take into account the specific requirements of different applications and target markets.

Everything from a Single Source at VDE

By combining standards-compliant testing, application-specific expertise, and state-of-the-art testing infrastructure, VDE ensures that your batteries meet all relevant requirements, from safe operation and transportation to integration into complex systems.

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Power Tools On Wooden Desk

Consumer and Industrial Applications (Power Tools, Garden Tools, Electronics, Medical Devices)

Portable devices, power tools, and industrial applications are subject to a wide range of well-established standards.

Power Tools On Wooden Desk

Portable devices, power tools, and industrial applications are subject to a wide range of well-established standards.

Relevant Battery Standards

  • UN 38.3 – Transport Tests for Lithium Batteries
    Mandatory testing standard for global transport. Includes, among other things, altitude, temperature, vibration, shock, short-circuit, and overcharge tests to ensure safety during transport.
  • IEC 62133-2 – Safety Requirements for Portable Lithium Batteries
    Key standard for batteries in consumer products. Tests, among other things, electrical, mechanical, and thermal behavior, as well as protective mechanisms in the event of a fault.
  • IEC 60086-4 (Primary Batteries)
  • IEC 61960-3 (Performance Requirements)
  • IEC 62281 (Transport Requirements for Lithium Batteries)
  • Screening according to UL 2054 (household and commercial batteries)

Relevant product standards

  • IEC 60335-1 Annex B (household appliances)
  • IEC 60335-2-107 Annex KK
  • IEC 62841-1 Annex K (power tools)
EV electric vehicle Li-Ion battery concept, close up

Electric Vehicles (EV & LEV)

Traction batteries are subject to particularly demanding requirements regarding safety, service life, and durability.

EV electric vehicle Li-Ion battery concept, close up

Traction batteries are subject to particularly demanding requirements regarding safety, service life, and durability.

Relevant Standards:

  • UN 38.3 – Transport Tests (see above)
  • ISO 12405-4 – Test Methods for Battery Systems in Electric Vehicles
  • Evaluation of the performance, service life, and safety of complete battery systems.
  • IEC 62660 series – Cell testing for automotive applications
  • Focus on safety, performance, and aging behavior of lithium-ion cells.
  • DIN EN 50604-1 (LEV batteries)
  • ISO 16750 (in-vehicle environmental requirements)
  • LV 124 (OEM requirements for electrical components)
  • AK-LH 5.21 (German OEM specification)
  • Screening according to UL 2271 (LEV batteries)
Concept of a home energy storage system based on a lithium ion battery pack

Stationary Energy Storage Systems

Stationary battery systems for residential and industrial applications require the highest safety standards for continuous operation.

Concept of a home energy storage system based on a lithium ion battery pack

Stationary battery systems for residential and industrial applications require the highest safety standards for continuous operation.

Relevant Standards:

  • UN 38.3 – Transport Tests (see above)
  • IEC 62619 – Safety Requirements for Industrial Lithium Batteries
  • Key standard for stationary storage and industrial applications. Includes tests for overcharge, short circuit, thermal stability, and system behavior in the event of a fault.
  • VDE-AR-E 2510-50 – Safety requirements for stationary energy storage systems
  • National application rule for battery storage systems in buildings. Defines requirements for installation, operation, and safety—particularly with regard to fire protection and system integration.
  • IEC 62620 (Performance Requirements for Industrial Batteries)
  • IEC 62933 (System Requirements for Energy Storage)
  • Screening in accordance with UL 1973 and UL 9540 / UL 9540A (system and fire safety tests)