Environmental, health, and safety issues of sodium-sulfur batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles
This report examines the shipping regulations that govern the shipment of dangerous goods. Since the elemental sodium contained in both sodium-sulfur and sodium-metal-chloride batteries is classified as a dangerous good, and is listed on both the national and international hazardous materials listings, both national and international regulatory processes are considered in this report The interrelationships as well as the differences between the two processes are highlighted. It is important to note that the transport regulatory processes examined in this report are reviewed within the context of assessing the necessary steps needed to provide for the domestic and international transport of sodium-beta batteries. The need for such an assessment was determined by the Shipping Sub-Working Group (SSWG) of the EV Battery Readiness Working Group (Working Group), created in 1990. The Working Group was created to examine the regulatory issues pertaining to in-vehicle safety, shipping, and recycling of sodium-sulfur batteries, each of which is addressed by a sub-working group. The mission of the SSWG is to establish basic provisions that will ensure the safe and efficient transport of sodium-beta batteries. To support that end, a proposal to the UN Committee of Experts was prepared by the SSWG, with the goal of obtaining a proper shipping name and UN number for sodium-beta batteries and to establish the basic transport requirements for such batteries (see the appendix for the proposal as submitted). It is emphasized that because batteries are large articles containing elemental sodium and, in some cases, sulfur, there is no existing UN entry under which they can be classified and for which modal transport requirements, such as the use of packaging appropriate for such large articles, are provided for. It is for this reason that a specific UN entry for sodium-beta batteries is considered essential.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- OSTI ID:
- 7021196
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/TP-463-4951; ON: DE92016443
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
SODIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
TRANSPORT REGULATIONS
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYBRID ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS
SAFETY
SODIUM
TRANSPORT
UNITED NATIONS
ALKALI METALS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELEMENTS
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
MATERIALS
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
METALS
REGULATIONS
VEHICLES
290300* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety
330300 - Advanced Propulsion Systems- Electric-Powered Systems
330400 - Advanced Propulsion Systems- Hybrid Systems