Lithium Battery Cell & Pack Sourcing from China
5 resources tagged with "Batteries"
China makes the bulk of the world's lithium cells, from 18650/21700 cylindricals (Samsung SDI, LG, CATL chemistries) to prismatic LFP cells (CATL, EVE, CALB at 50Ah–304Ah) and custom LiPo pouches from 100mAh up. The single biggest risk is Grade B cells sold as Grade A — recycled or factory-second cells with degraded capacity and inconsistent internal resistance. Every cell or pack shipped by air needs a valid UN 38.3 test summary, and pack-level safety often requires IEC 62133.
When you source cells, "Grade A" is a claim, not a guarantee — we verify by checking the UN 38.3 report matches your exact cell model and by sampling capacity and internal resistance against the datasheet before shipment.
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FAQ
How do I avoid Grade B battery cells from China?
Buy through authorized channels where possible, demand the original UN 38.3 report matching the cell model, and have a third party measure capacity and internal resistance on a sample. B-grade cells show high IR spread and below-spec capacity.
What certification is required to ship lithium batteries by air?
UN 38.3 is mandatory for air freight — it covers altitude, thermal, vibration, shock, and short-circuit testing. Airlines and forwarders require the test summary before they accept the shipment.
What is the difference between cell makers and pack assemblers?
Cell giants like CATL and EVE make the raw cells; pack assemblers buy those cells and build them into packs with a BMS. For custom packs you usually work with an assembler, so verify which grade of cell they actually source.
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