{"id":857019,"date":"2021-04-19T14:26:17","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T18:26:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/?p=857019"},"modified":"2025-10-29T13:04:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T17:04:36","slug":"lithium-batteries-faq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-batteries-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithium Batteries FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”small_depth” column_border_radius=”10px” width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” overlay_strength=”0.3″ column_border_width=”none” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\n

Frequently asked questions about Lithium Batteries.<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][toggles style=”minimal”][toggle color=”Extra-Color-1″ title=”Why are lithium batteries regulated as dangerous goods?”][vc_column_text]Although they have become essential for many modern devices, batteries have a number of hazards that make them dangerous in transportation. When damaged, or if improperly manufactured, they can form \u201cinternal short circuits\u201d that lead to heat buildup that can result in fires. They can also ignite if overcharged, or when operating equipment and not enough cooling is provided. Lithium metal in non-rechargeable batteries can ignite on contact with water, so cracked casings can be dangerous when batteries are exposed to the elements. Making matters worse, extinguishing lithium battery fires can be difficult and require special extinguishers (Class D). Finally, swallowing a lithium battery (although a rare situation) can lead to potentially fatal damage to the esophagus and digestive tract.[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Extra-Color-1″ title=”What is the difference between a “battery“ and a “cell“?”][vc_column_text]Although people tend to use these terms interchangeably, they have specific meaning in dangerous goods regulations. A cell refers to a single anode and cathode separated by electrolyte used to produce a voltage and current. For example, think of a single \u201cAA\u201d cell that is not connected to another cell. When two or more cells are connected together to share their output, this is called a \u201cbattery.\u201d For example, a typical computer battery pack contains several cells connected together.[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Extra-Color-1″ title=”What is the difference between lithium ion batteries, lithium metal batteries, and sodium batteries?”][vc_column_text]Lithium metal batteries, as the name suggests, contain metallic lithium typically used as the anode (negative electrode). These batteries were originally non-rechargeable (also known as primary<\/em> batteries), although rechargeable versions are now in development. Lithium metal batteries are known for their high energy density but also pose greater risks if damaged or improperly handled.<\/p>\n

In contrast, lithium ion batteries do not contain metallic lithium. Instead, they operate using lithium ions that move through an electrolyte between electrodes during charging and discharging. These are typically rechargeable<\/em> (also called secondary<\/em> batteries) and are widely used in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and other applications. Some lithium ion batteries use a polymer-based electrolyte (commonly known as lithium polymer batteries), but for transport classification purposes, they are still considered lithium ion batteries.<\/p>\n

Sodium batteries, including sodium-ion and sodium metal variants, are emerging as an alternative to lithium-based technologies. Instead of lithium, they use sodium a more abundant and less expensive material. Sodium-ion batteries work similarly to lithium ion batteries, using sodium ions in the electrolyte. While their energy density is currently lower than that of lithium-based batteries, sodium batteries are gaining attention for their potential advantages in cost, sustainability, and resource availability. Like lithium batteries, sodium batteries may also fall under transport regulations depending on their chemistry and risk profile.[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Extra-Color-1″ title=”What divides \u201chigh-powered\u201d from \u201clow-powered\u201d lithium and sodium batteries?”][vc_column_text]The United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods establish criteria to differentiate between \u201chigh-powered\u201d batteries, which must be shipped as fully regulated dangerous goods, and \u201clow-powered\u201d batteries, which may be eligible for exemptions from many regulatory requirements. These criteria have been adopted into national regulations such as the U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR) and Canada\u2019s Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations.<\/p>\n

For lithium metal batteries, classification is based on the amount of lithium content:<\/p>\n