The demand for electronic devices with great autonomy and Electric vehicles manufactured in China have skyrocketed in recent years in EuropeAt the same time, EU authorities have tightened regulations for the transport and import of lithium batteries, both in smartphones and electric cars. It's common to wonder why a mobile phone purchased in China comes with a larger battery than its European counterpart, or what happens if you want to transport your new scooter, drone, or electric car purchased online. Today, we take an in-depth look at these limits, how they affect users and businesses, and what new regulations are in place for 2024.
Lithium batteries Large capacity has posed a logistical and security challenge at a global level, especially since Asia—specifically China—has established itself as the world's largest producer of this key component. The European Union, concerned about the risk of aircraft fires, recycling, the ecological transition, and international competition, has focused on the import, distribution, and transport of all types of batteries, especially high-voltage batteries for electric vehicles. So, if you're planning to import a cell phone, an external battery, or even want to import an electric vehicle (BEV), or are simply going to fly with your devices, this is of interest to you... a lot.
Why are there differences in battery capacity between China and Europe?
You may have been surprised to find mobile phone models in China with 10.000 mAh batteries, while in Europe, those same models offer lower capacities or even barely exceed 5.000 mAh. This is not due to a lack of technology or a voluntary cutback on the part of the manufacturer, but to the strict international regulations on the transport and certification of lithium batteries.Manufacturers must adapt their products to the legislation of each region in order to distribute them commercially or even to allow travelers or individuals to legally transport them on an airplane.
UN 3480/UN38.3 and its application to lithium-ion batteries It establishes conditions for air and sea transport, limiting the maximum capacity of each cell and the battery assembly.
- In practice, For mobile phones, tablets and laptops, the battery is usually limited to 100 Wh (watt-hours). per device for in-cabin travel. Above this threshold, packaging, labeling, declaration, and testing requirements multiply, making logistics more expensive and complicated.
- For single cells, the limit for commercial air transport is 20 Wh per cell if grouped in packs. Therefore, smartphones that use single-cell batteries (the majority) must reduce their capacity to avoid exceeding this threshold.
Furthermore, the UN38.3 standard requires any rechargeable battery traveling in international shipments (including commercial imports) to undergo intensive heat, vibration, short circuit, and storage tests, further limiting the capacity and features that can be offered without significantly increasing the final cost.
Transporting lithium batteries by plane: What can I bring as a passenger?
If you're someone who travels with two phones, a high-capacity external battery, a laptop, and/or a drone, this affects you directly. European commercial airlines (and virtually all international airlines) are governed by IATA and UN regulations for personal devices and spare batteries:
- La lithium battery integrated into an electronic device (mobile phone, tablet, laptop, camera, smartwatch, drone, etc.) can be carried in the cabin as long as it doesn't exceed 100 Wh. Beyond that 100 Wh and up to 160 Wh, you'll need express authorization from the airline and a maximum limit of two units per passenger.
- Spare batteries or power banks: You can only carry them in carry-on baggage, never checked baggage, and you must comply with the same limits as above. This means up to 100 Wh without paperwork, and between 100 and 160 Wh, a maximum of two (check with the airline first, as approval may be required).
- Which gives It is prohibited to transport or check in batteries larger than 160 Wh (the ones typically used on electric bicycles, large scooters, or advanced drone packs). Attempting to travel with them, in addition to being dangerous, risks fines or seizure.
- Removable batteries must be perfectly protected against short circuits or damage (in its original packaging, with the terminals covered with insulating tape or in an individual sleeve).
If you travel often, you'll know that the regulations aren't arbitrary: there have been serious incidents of fires in cargo holds due to battery failures, capacity falsification, or improper storage. Therefore, security personnel and airlines can confiscate, fine, or prevent your boarding if you don't scrupulously comply with these limits.
What if I want to import, ship, or buy a mobile phone or electric car online from China?
The difficulty increases if you are an importer, an online store, or a private consumer who buys large quantities from Asia. All batteries (even those included in new devices) traveling by international commercial transport must comply with UN38.3, which involves safety testing, certifications, and strict limits. Failure to comply with these limits may result in shipping companies rejecting the shipment or holding it in customs.
International trade: electric vehicles, scooters, bicycles and spare parts
In the case of electric vehicles (BEV) and any high-voltage battery of Chinese origin, the controls are even more rigid.The new wave of European regulations and the European Commission's files (including the anti-subsidy investigations into imported electric vehicles from China) detail:
- To legally transport an electric vehicle from China to Europe, the battery must be certified under all UN38.3 tests. In addition, cannot exceed 100 Wh per cell or 160 Wh per pack for air transport or certain rapid transits (for example, vehicles in parts or spares).
- For the maritime transport of complete vehicles, the requirements are different and somewhat more permissive, but they are still required to comply with endurance tests, special packaging, dangerous goods labels, and additional insurance.
- Class 9 dangerous goods certification is mandatory for any large battery, which increases costs and reduces logistical flexibility. Therefore, cars or scooters sold in Europe often have smaller batteries or are sold as kits with the battery shipped and assembled in the destination country.
- Reducing battery capacity allows manufacturers to reduce shipping costs and meet requirements, although at the cost of losing range compared to the model sold in China or the US.
The dual-cell effect and innovation in new batteries
In view of this situation, manufacturers have boosted the development of new battery technologies (such as silicon-carbon, dual-cell LFP, etc.) that allow the energy density to be adjusted just below the legal thresholds for each cell without sacrificing autonomy. An increasingly widespread strategy is to use two-cell batteries (which allows for, for example, two 18 Wh cells instead of a single 36 Wh one), benefiting from the per-cell limits and avoiding part of the regulation.
This, coupled with advances in electronic management systems (BMS), has led to the emergence of sleeker phones with battery life lasting several days, and European electric cars with performance similar to those in China, but still within the limits imposed by the EU and IATA. The near future will bring models to China with batteries of up to 9.000 mAh, but they will likely never officially leave that country unless legislation changes..
Recent European regulations and files against Chinese imports
Over the past two years, the European Commission has stepped up its surveillance of BEV and battery imports from China, not only for safety reasons, but also to combat unfair competition and protect European industrial fabric:
- Regulations 2024/1866 and 2024/785: They establish the registration and control of the transport and import of electric vehicles and batteries from third countries, especially China, detailing capacity limits and certification requirements.
- Anti-subsidy investigationsBrussels has opened formal proceedings, finding that a large portion of Chinese electric cars and batteries receive state subsidies, distorting prices and threatening the viability of the emerging European industry.
- As a result, they have been approved Countervailing measures and specific customs duties for BEVs and certain batteries from China, with tariffs that can exceed 17% and reach up to 35% depending on the company and cooperation with European authorities.
- The impact is twofold: on the one hand, logistics and customs costs rise, and on the other, the sale of uncertified products or those that do not meet cell or pack capacity limits is limited, reducing the effective range of some models compared to Asian offerings.
