{"id":883932,"date":"2025-02-25T07:00:49","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T12:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/?p=883932"},"modified":"2025-09-05T05:46:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T09:46:16","slug":"lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What’s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What’s the Difference?<\/h2>\n

Lithium batteries are a common material found in transportation of hazardous materials\/dangerous goods. But to ship them properly, you\u2019ll need to know if you have \u201ccells\u201d or \u201cbatteries.\u201d This can seem confusing at first \u2013 aren\u2019t they all batteries? Even the regulations will use shipping names such as \u201cLithium-ion battery\u201d to cover both cells and batteries.<\/p>\n

But while in some areas the terms “battery” and “cell” are often used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings. Understanding the difference is crucial if you\u2019re trying to transport these items, or electronics containing lithium-based power sources.<\/p>\n

What Is a Lithium Cell?<\/h3>\n

A lithium cell<\/strong> is the fundamental unit of a lithium-based energy storage device. It consists of an anode (typically made of graphite), a cathode (commonly lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, or similar materials), and a lithium-ion-conducting electrolyte. When connected to an external circuit, a chemical reaction within the cell generates an electric current. Compared to other cells, lithium cells can hold a lot of energy and have a long life.<\/p>\n

Cells are usually rather small units, such as AA or AAA cells, or so-called \u201cbutton\u201d or \u201ccoin\u201d cells. They normally have a low energy capacity \u2013 a typical lithium-ion cell has a nominal voltage<\/em><\/a> of about 3.6 to 3.7 volts, depending on its chemistry.<\/p>\n

\"\"Figure 1 – Two button cells<\/em><\/p>\n

Lithium cells are generally categorized as:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Primary Lithium Cells<\/strong>: These are non-rechargeable and designed for single use. Examples include lithium-thionyl chloride and lithium-manganese dioxide cells. These are your typical cells that you put into a remote control or digital camera and send out for recycling once their power has been drained.<\/li>\n
  2. Secondary Lithium Cells<\/strong>: These are rechargeable and used in a wide range of applications. Common examples include lithium-ion and lithium-polymer cells. Rechargeable lithium cells are expensive but can be cost-effective if you need to run small devices repeatedly. They\u2019re great in areas where it\u2019s hard to purchase primary cells, so they\u2019re popular with travelers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What Is a Lithium Battery?<\/h3>\n

    A lithium battery<\/strong> is a collection of one or more lithium cells connected together to provide a desired voltage and current. Think of it basically as a group of cells that are sharing energy to achieve a higher amount of power than a cell can achieve individually \u2013 the \u201cteam approach\u201d for electrical storage.<\/p>\n

    Since a large number of cells can be used to create a battery, batteries can be used to power much more energy-hungry devices, such as laptops, cell phones, electric vehicles, or even larger assemblies.<\/p>\n

    \"\"Figure 2 – Two connected cells forming a battery<\/em><\/p>\n

    Key Differences Between a Lithium Cell and a Lithium Battery<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Feature<\/strong><\/td>\nLithium Cells<\/strong><\/td>\nLithium Batteries<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Definition<\/strong><\/td>\nSingle electrochemical unit<\/td>\nMultiple cells connected together<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Voltage<\/strong><\/td>\nTypically:
    \nButton cells 3V
    \nAAA cells: 1.5VAA cells: 3.6-3.7V<\/td>\n    		Depends on the number and configuration of cells<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Size and form<\/strong><\/td>\nSmaller, basic unit<\/td>\nLarger, often enclosed in a case<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Typical usage<\/strong><\/td>\nUsed individually in simple devices<\/td>\nPowers more complex and high-demand devices<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Cost<\/strong><\/td>\nUsually low<\/td>\nMay be high, depending on how many cells in the battery assembly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Why the Distinction Matters<\/h3>\n

    When transporting lithium batteries, or devices containing them, you need to know if they are what the U.S. \u201cHazardous Materials Regulations<\/a>\u201d call \u201clarge\u201d or \u201csmall.\u201d This has nothing to do with the physical dimensions of the cell or battery. Rather it\u2019s related to the amount of energy contained by the article. These limits are different for cells and batteries, so it\u2019s important to know which category your energy storage falls into.<\/p>\n

    There are some nice exceptions in the regulations for small batteries and cells. For ground shipment in the U.S., you can find them in 49 CFR section 173.185(c)<\/a>. These are similar for the limits found in Canada\u2019s \u201cTransportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations<\/a>,\u201d Special Provision 34 and the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, for <\/em>Section IB Section II batteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Type of Storage<\/strong><\/td>\nCell or Battery<\/strong><\/td>\nCapacity limit for \u201csmall\u201d devices<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Lithium ion<\/strong><\/td>\nCell<\/td>\n20 Wh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Lithium ion<\/strong><\/td>\nBattery<\/td>\n100 Wh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Lithium metal<\/strong><\/td>\nCell<\/td>\n1 g lithium content<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Lithium metal<\/strong><\/td>\nBattery<\/td>\n2 g lithium content<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Note that cells<\/em> have a much lower capacity limit than batteries<\/em> for these exceptions. If you have an electrical storage device with, for example, a Watt-Hour (Wh) rating of 50 Wh, it could qualify for the exception if it\u2019s a battery<\/em>, but not if it\u2019s a cell<\/em>.<\/p>\n

    If you can\u2019t tell if a unit is a battery or a cell by looking at it, the easiest solution is to contact the manufacturer. They should be able to provide you with the specifications, including the energy capacity and if it\u2019s a cell or battery. As a quick check, units with voltages exceeding 4 Volts are likely to be batteries, although there may be exceptions to this.<\/p>\n

    Small (excepted) lithium cells and batteries can usually be shipped without UN specification packaging. The main hazard communication requirement is the \u201cLithium battery mark<\/a>\u201d (or, as IATA calls it, the \u201cBattery Mark\u201d). This must be affixed to the package for all small batteries (with certain exceptions for batteries installed in equipment) but they don\u2019t need other marks or labels. They also don\u2019t need formal hazardous materials shipping papers, although air shipments will require a notation on the air waybill.<\/p>\n

    \"LithiumFigure 3 – Lithium battery mark<\/em><\/p>\n

    Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    There\u2019s a lot that goes into properly classifying lithium batteries. If you\u2019re confused, take a look at our\u00a0Lithium Battery FAQ<\/a>, or contact our team of experts at 855.734.5469 or\u00a0send us an email,<\/a> we\u2019re happy to help. We can help you figure out the safest, most cost-effective way to ship these common products.<\/p>\n

    Stay up to date and sign up for our newsletter!<\/a><\/h2>\n

    We have all the products, services and training you need to ensure your staff is properly trained and informed.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"Lithium Battery Mark<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"Extover<\/a><\/td>\n\"4GV4GV Securepacc
    \nComplete Shipping Kit<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    References:<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Battery Guy, \u201cWhat\u2019s the difference between a cell, a battery and a battery bank?,\u201d https:\/\/batteryguy.com\/kb\/knowledge-base\/whats-the-difference-between-a-cell-a-battery-and-a-battery-bank\/<\/a><\/p>\n

    BYJU\u2019S, \u201cDifference between Cell and Battery,\u201d https:\/\/byjus.com\/chemistry\/difference-between-cell-and-battery\/<\/a><\/p>\n

    IATA \u201cBattery Guidance Document, Transport of Lithium Metal, Lithium Ion and Sodium Ion Batteries, Revised for the 2024 Regulations,\u201d https:\/\/www.iata.org\/contentassets\/05e6d8742b0047259bf3a700bc9d42b9\/lithium-battery-guidance-document.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

    Transport Canada, \u201cTransporting Batteries,\u201d https:\/\/tc.canada.ca\/en\/dangerous-goods\/transporting-batteries<\/a><\/p>\n

    U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), \u201cLithium Battery Guide for Shippers.\u201d https:\/\/www.phmsa.dot.gov\/sites\/phmsa.dot.gov\/files\/2024-11\/Lithium-Battery-Guide-2024.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What’s the Difference? Lithium batteries are a common material found in transportation of hazardous materials\/dangerous…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12546,"featured_media":883933,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2413,2494,2661,3197,4000,4008,4037,5069,5070,5073,5074,5076,5083,5085,5086],"tags":[2362,2364,2366,2368,2398,2429,2443,2455,2462,2496,2574],"class_list":["post-883932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tdg-regulation-updates","category-iata-and-icao","category-49-cfr-regulation-updates","category-lithium-batteries","category-air-transport-popular-topic","category-ground-road-and-rail-transport","category-compliance-training","category-ground-transportation","category-air-transportation","category-dot-49-cfr","category-tdgr","category-iata","category-batteries","category-un-packaging","category-labeling","tag-dangerous-goods","tag-hazmat","tag-tdg","tag-49-cfr","tag-phmsa","tag-regulations","tag-safety","tag-iata","tag-lithium-batteries","tag-shipping","tag-hazardous-materials"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What's the Difference? | ICC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The terms "battery" and "cell" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Understanding the difference is crucial.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/883932\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What's the Difference? | ICC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The terms "battery" and "cell" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Understanding the difference is crucial.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ICC Compliance Center Inc - Canada\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/compliancecenter\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-02-25T12:00:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-05T09:46:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/ICC_Lithium-vs-Cell-Batteries_Feb2025_Blog.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Barbara Foster\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ICC_Compliance\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ICC_Compliance\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Barbara Foster\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Barbara Foster\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/3faee144e7445e444b6d5f3196c136cc\"},\"headline\":\"Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What’s the Difference?\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-02-25T12:00:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-05T09:46:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/\"},\"wordCount\":1098,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/ICC_Lithium-vs-Cell-Batteries_Feb2025_Blog.png\",\"keywords\":[\"dangerous goods\",\"hazmat\",\"TDG\",\"49 CFR\",\"PHMSA\",\"Regulations\",\"safety\",\"IATA\",\"lithium batteries\",\"shipping\",\"hazardous materials\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Transportation of Dangerous Goods\",\"IATA and ICAO\",\"49 CFR\",\"Lithium Batteries\",\"Air Transport\",\"Ground (road and rail) Transport\",\"Compliance & Training\",\"Ground Transportation\",\"Air Transportation\",\"DOT 49 CFR\",\"TDGR\",\"IATA\",\"Batteries\",\"UN Packaging\",\"Labeling\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/\",\"name\":\"Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What's the Difference? | ICC\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/ICC_Lithium-vs-Cell-Batteries_Feb2025_Blog.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-02-25T12:00:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-05T09:46:16+00:00\",\"description\":\"The terms \\\"battery\\\" and \\\"cell\\\" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Understanding the difference is crucial.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/ICC_Lithium-vs-Cell-Batteries_Feb2025_Blog.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/ICC_Lithium-vs-Cell-Batteries_Feb2025_Blog.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":300},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What’s the Difference?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/\",\"name\":\"ICC Compliance Center Inc - Canada\",\"description\":\"Hazmat Regulations Experts\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#organization\",\"name\":\"ICC Compliance Center\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/04\/icc-compliance-center.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/04\/icc-compliance-center.png\",\"width\":500,\"height\":120,\"caption\":\"ICC Compliance Center\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/compliancecenter\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/ICC_Compliance\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/icccompliancecenter\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/3faee144e7445e444b6d5f3196c136cc\",\"name\":\"Barbara Foster\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/03\/BarbaraFoster_Jan2023-scaled-e1679516761809-100x100.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/03\/BarbaraFoster_Jan2023-scaled-e1679516761809-100x100.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Barbara Foster\"},\"description\":\"Barbara Foster graduated from Dalhousie University with a Master\u2019s degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Education. As one of ICC Compliance Center\u2019s most senior employees, she has worked in the Toronto office for the past three decades as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist and Trainer. She is fluent in various US, Canadian, and international regulations involving transportation, including TDG, 49 CFR, ICAO, IMDG, and the ADR\/RID. She also specializes in the hazard communication standards of OSHA, WHMIS, CCCR, and the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling (GHS). Barbara is the author of ICC\u2019s TDG Clear Language Driver and Handler\u2019s Guide. Currently, she is a participant on the Canadian General Standards Board committee where she creates training standards for transportation of dangerous goods in Canada and is a past Chair of the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/author\/barbara-foster\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What's the Difference? | ICC","description":"The terms \"battery\" and \"cell\" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Understanding the difference is crucial.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/883932","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What's the Difference? | ICC","og_description":"The terms \"battery\" and \"cell\" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Understanding the difference is crucial.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/","og_site_name":"ICC Compliance Center Inc - Canada","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/compliancecenter","article_published_time":"2025-02-25T12:00:49+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-09-05T09:46:16+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":300,"url":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/ICC_Lithium-vs-Cell-Batteries_Feb2025_Blog.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Barbara Foster","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@ICC_Compliance","twitter_site":"@ICC_Compliance","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Barbara Foster","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/"},"author":{"name":"Barbara Foster","@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/3faee144e7445e444b6d5f3196c136cc"},"headline":"Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What’s the Difference?","datePublished":"2025-02-25T12:00:49+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-05T09:46:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/"},"wordCount":1098,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/ICC_Lithium-vs-Cell-Batteries_Feb2025_Blog.png","keywords":["dangerous goods","hazmat","TDG","49 CFR","PHMSA","Regulations","safety","IATA","lithium batteries","shipping","hazardous materials"],"articleSection":["Transportation of Dangerous Goods","IATA and ICAO","49 CFR","Lithium Batteries","Air Transport","Ground (road and rail) Transport","Compliance & Training","Ground Transportation","Air Transportation","DOT 49 CFR","TDGR","IATA","Batteries","UN Packaging","Labeling"],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/","name":"Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What's the Difference? | ICC","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/ICC_Lithium-vs-Cell-Batteries_Feb2025_Blog.png","datePublished":"2025-02-25T12:00:49+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-05T09:46:16+00:00","description":"The terms \"battery\" and \"cell\" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Understanding the difference is crucial.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/ICC_Lithium-vs-Cell-Batteries_Feb2025_Blog.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/ICC_Lithium-vs-Cell-Batteries_Feb2025_Blog.png","width":1000,"height":300},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/lithium-battery-vs-lithium-cell-whats-the-difference\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What’s the Difference?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/","name":"ICC Compliance Center Inc - Canada","description":"Hazmat Regulations Experts","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#organization","name":"ICC Compliance Center","url":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/04\/icc-compliance-center.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/04\/icc-compliance-center.png","width":500,"height":120,"caption":"ICC Compliance Center"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/compliancecenter","https:\/\/x.com\/ICC_Compliance","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/icccompliancecenter"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/3faee144e7445e444b6d5f3196c136cc","name":"Barbara Foster","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/03\/BarbaraFoster_Jan2023-scaled-e1679516761809-100x100.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/03\/BarbaraFoster_Jan2023-scaled-e1679516761809-100x100.jpg","caption":"Barbara Foster"},"description":"Barbara Foster graduated from Dalhousie University with a Master\u2019s degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Education. As one of ICC Compliance Center\u2019s most senior employees, she has worked in the Toronto office for the past three decades as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist and Trainer. She is fluent in various US, Canadian, and international regulations involving transportation, including TDG, 49 CFR, ICAO, IMDG, and the ADR\/RID. She also specializes in the hazard communication standards of OSHA, WHMIS, CCCR, and the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling (GHS). Barbara is the author of ICC\u2019s TDG Clear Language Driver and Handler\u2019s Guide. Currently, she is a participant on the Canadian General Standards Board committee where she creates training standards for transportation of dangerous goods in Canada and is a past Chair of the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council.","url":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/author\/barbara-foster\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/883932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12546"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=883932"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/883932\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/883933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=883932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=883932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=883932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}