Testing of Batteries for Rail Applications According to IEC 62928

IEC 62928 Standard

Railway battery testing for rail applications verifies that lithium-ion batteries meet the IEC 62928 standard. Train battery testing is often done in conjunction with other on-board train battery and electronic equipment certification such as UL 1973. At TÜV SÜD, we offer various rail battery testing services required by IEC 62928 and additional standards.

At present, most non-electrified branch-lines are operated using diesel trains. Various factors, not least the advances made in battery technology, enable these lines to be operated with battery-powered trains – an ideal solution for only partly electrified branch lines. In this case, the batteries can be immediately recharged over the remaining distance via the pantograph.

IEC 62928 is an international standard that sets out design, operation and safety parameters for lithium-ion batteries used on trains. It relates specifically to battery systems that are used for energy storage system (ESS) for the traction power of railway vehicles, like hybrid vehicles. Onboard train batteries are exposed to specific conditions, such as vibration and temperature changes. IEC 62928 provides a set of standards for how those batteries should be designed, operated and managed.

Railway battery testing aims to minimise the risk of dangerous hazards caused by batteries used on rolling stock. As rail components are mainly used in passenger transport, the highest standards of safety and reliability must be met. Consequently, this also applies to batteries which are increasingly used in long-distance and metro trains.

There is a growing interest in the use of batteries in the rail sector for both 'hybrid' and all-electric traction. As lithium-ion batteries can be hazardous if not designed correctly, testing is important to identify problems and to improve the design of train batteries.

You gain various benefits by ensuring the safety and reliability of your products with rail battery testing, including:

• Identify any problems with your battery design as early as possible and address these ahead of production.
• Ensure compliance of your onboard lithium-ion traction batteries for railway applications according to standards such as IEC 62928, UL 1973 or EN 50155 to gain and keep your customer's confidence in the safety of your batteries.
• Speed up your market access by demonstrating compliance with internationally recognised standards through conducting various rail battery tests.

TÜV SÜD's Railway Battery Testing Services

TÜV SÜD provides comprehensive type testing services for batteries used in rail applications. Our global battery testing experts work in close collaboration with our rail industry experts to conduct rigorous testing of batteries in onboard scenarios according to EN 50155 “Railway applications. Rolling stock. Electronic equipment”. Our laboratories and dedicated rolling stock test centers therefore provide the ideal environment to test train battery designs and performance, ensuring their safety and reliability.

We provide a wide range of relevant railway battery testing and certification services for lithium-Ion traction batteries used in rail applications against the international standard IEC 62928. The tests applicable to lithium-ion traction batteries are listed in clause 14 of IEC 62928. and focus on:

• Electrical tests: The standard requires testing at cell level and at the level of battery packs. The tests are based on IEC 62620:2014.
• Mechanical tests: Vibration and shock testing according to IEC 61373.
• Safety tests: Safety tests are based on IEC 62619:2017.
• Special tests for rolling stock: Tests include external short-circuit of the battery pack, fire testing and an EMC testing according to IEC 62236-3-2.

In addition, we provide the following rail battery testing services:

• Tests according to EN 50155:2017, including environmental tests and battery vibration testing in accordance with EN 61373 as well as EMC tests in accordance with EN 50212-3-2.
• Tests according to UL 1973 for batteries used in Light Electric Rail (LER) applications and stationary applications.

For more information about IEC 62928 and related rail battery testing, contact us today.