Lithium-Ion Battery Testing Services

As battery technology becomes more powerful and more widespread, the stakes associated with cell, module, and pack failure, fire, thermal runaway, mechanical damage, premature capacity loss have never been higher.

Axis Test Laboratories is a UKAS-accredited independent test facility based in Durham, UK, providing the environmental and mechanical testing that battery manufacturers, integrators, and product developers need to validate performance, demonstrate regulatory compliance, and reduce the risk of costly field failures. Our ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation (UKAS Schedule No. 7670) ensures that every test result we deliver is technically credible, fully traceable, and accepted by certification bodies, procurement authorities, and regulatory agencies worldwide.

Whether you are preparing a lithium-ion battery product for transport approval to UN 38.3, qualifying a battery management system for industrial use under IEC 62619, or stress-testing prototype cells for an EV powertrain programme, Axis Test Laboratories offers the right equipment, the right expertise, and the right documentation to keep your project moving.
 

Why Lithium-Ion Battery Testing Matters
Lithium-ion cells store significant amounts of energy in a compact form. Under the right conditions, excessive heat, mechanical damage, overcharge, or manufacturing defects, that energy can be released catastrophically through thermal runaway. Rigorous environmental and mechanical testing before market introduction is not simply a regulatory checkbox; it is a fundamental engineering requirement that protects end users, reduces product liability exposure, and demonstrates the technical confidence needed to win contracts in demanding markets.

In the UK and internationally, the regulatory and commercial landscape for battery testing is evolving rapidly. Transport regulations demand UN 38.3 compliance for all lithium battery shipments by road, sea, and air. The shift to electric mobility has placed ISO 12405 and UN Regulation ECE R100 front and centre for automotive battery packs. Energy storage systems face growing scrutiny under IEC 62619 and emerging grid codes. Meeting these requirements , and evidencing compliance through accredited test reports,  is a prerequisite for market access across virtually every sector in which lithium-ion batteries are used.

Key Standards & Regulations — Lithium-Ion Battery Testing
The following table summarises the principal standards and regulations relevant to lithium-ion battery environmental and mechanical testing. Axis Test Laboratories can support testing against all of these frameworks using our in-house and network capabilities.

Standard / Regulation    Scope    Applicable Testing
UN 38.3    Transport of dangerous goods — lithium batteries by air, sea, road and rail    Vibration (T.3), Shock & Drop (T.4), High/Low Temperature (T.2), Altitude Simulation, Crush, Short Circuit, Overcharge, Forced Discharge
IEC 62133-2    Safety for portable sealed secondary Li-ion/polymer cells and batteries    Vibration, Shock, Temperature Cycling, High Temperature, Humidity, Moulded Case Stress
IEC 62619    Safety for secondary lithium cells and batteries for use in industrial applications    Cyclic Temperature, Vibration, Shock, High Temperature Endurance, Humidity, Corrosion (enclosure)
ISO 12405-4    Electrically propelled road vehicles — traction battery packs and systems (Li-ion)    Vibration, Shock, Thermal Cycling, High/Low Temperature, Humidity, Corrosion
IEC 62281    Safety of lithium cells during transport    Vibration, Shock, Altitude, Temperature, Short Circuit, Crush
BS EN 50604-1    Secondary lithium batteries for light electric vehicle (LEV) applications    Vibration, Shock, Thermal Abuse, Temperature Cycling, Humidity
UN ECE Regulation R100    Safety requirements for rechargeable energy storage systems in EVs    Vibration, Thermal, Humidity, Salt Spray (enclosure)
IEC 60068-2 series    Environmental testing procedures — underlying methods referenced by all above standards    Vibration, Shock, Dry Heat, Cold, Humidity, Cyclic Temperature, Salt Spray
ISTA 2A / ASTM D4169    Packaging and transport simulation    Vibration, Shock, Drop — battery transport packaging validation
 

Why Choose Axis Test Laboratories for Battery Testing?

UKAS Accreditation — ISO/IEC 17025:2017
Our accreditation (UKAS Schedule No. 7670) ensures full traceability of all measurement results. Reports from Axis are accepted by certification bodies, regulatory authorities, and procurement frameworks without question. For battery testing, where the consequences of non-compliant test data can be severe, accreditation is not a nice-to-have, it is a requirement.        

Experience Across Multiple Battery Applications
Having supported clients across automotive, defence, marine, industrial and consumer electronics sectors, our team understands how battery test requirements vary by application, standard, and end market, and how to design test programmes that are both technically rigorous and practically efficient.       

Fast Turnaround & Clear Reporting
Full UKAS test reports are delivered within 10 working days of test completion as standard. We provide regular updates throughout the test programme, and our reports present results, evidence, and conclusions in a format directly usable for regulatory submissions and customer audits. Our facility in Durham is accessible to manufacturers throughout the UK, and we regularly receive battery samples from international customers for testing and return. Our team provides a 24-hour response to all enquiries on working days.


What is UN 38.3 testing and does Axis Test Laboratories provide it?
A: UN 38.3 is the international standard governing the safe transport of lithium batteries by air, road, sea, and rail. It specifies a series of safety tests including altitude simulation, thermal testing, vibration (T.3), shock and drop (T.4), and electrical tests. Axis Test Laboratories provides the mechanical and environmental components of UN 38.3 testing,  specifically Tests T.2 (thermal), T.3 (vibration) and T.4 (shock and drop) — from our UKAS-accredited laboratory. Electrical tests (short circuit, overcharge, forced discharge) can be facilitated through our network of partner laboratories.

Can you test individual cells, modules, or complete battery packs?
A: Yes. Axis Test Laboratories tests at all levels of battery assembly, from individual cylindrical or pouch cells, through module assemblies, up to complete battery pack systems. We will discuss the size, weight, and configuration of your battery product at the quotation stage to confirm equipment suitability and fixture requirements.

Which battery testing standards do you support?
A: Our core battery testing capability covers UN 38.3, IEC 62133-2, IEC 62619, ISO 12405-4, IEC 62281, BS EN 50604-1, UN ECE Regulation R100, and IEC 60068-2 series test methods. We can also test to MIL-STD-810, DEF STAN 00-35, RTCA DO-160 and customer-specific battery test specifications.

Are your test reports accepted for regulatory submissions and certification?
A: Yes. Axis Test Laboratories is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by UKAS (Schedule No. 7670). Our UKAS-accredited test reports carry internationally recognised accreditation marks and are accepted by certification bodies, notified bodies, regulatory authorities, and procurement frameworks in the UK and across global markets.

Do you carry out electrical testing on batteries, overcharge, short circuit, forced discharge?
A: The electrical abuse tests specified in UN 38.3 and IEC 62133 (overcharge, short circuit, forced discharge) require specialised electrical test infrastructure with specific safety provisions. These tests fall outside our direct in-house scope. However, we regularly facilitate complete test programmes through our network of partner laboratories and can coordinate the full UN 38.3 or IEC 62133 programme on your behalf.

Do I need to attend the testing in person?
A: No — many of our battery testing clients send samples to our Durham laboratory and receive results and reports remotely. We provide regular updates and photographic evidence throughout the test programme. Clients who wish to attend and witness testing in person are always welcome.

Can you help design a battery test programme if we're not sure which tests we need?
A: Absolutely. Our engineers regularly advise customers on the most appropriate test sequence based on the applicable standard, product type, and development stage. Contact us with your battery product details and the market or certification you are targeting, and we will propose a tailored test programme with a competitive quotation.

Axis Test Laboratories is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by UKAS. Our accreditation schedule (No. 7670) covers the full range of environmental and mechanical test methods applicable to lithium-ion battery testing.