Welcome to the BattSource Knowledge Base — your technical resource for understanding battery cell technology, selection, and application. Written by our engineering team for engineers, buyers, and pack builders.
⚡ Cell Chemistry Guide
| Chemistry | Nominal Voltage | Cycle Life | Energy Density | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMC (LiNiMnCoO₂) | 3.6V – 3.7V | 300 – 500 | High (200-260 Wh/kg) | Power tools, e-bikes, EVs, drones |
| LiFePO₄ (LFP) | 3.2V | 2,000 – 6,000+ | Medium (90-160 Wh/kg) | Solar storage, UPS, marine, home battery |
| Sodium-Ion | 2.8V – 3.1V | 2,000 – 4,000 | Low-Medium | Grid storage, low-cost applications |
📐 Cell Format Comparison
| Format | Typical Capacity | Advantages | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cylindrical | 2Ah – 6Ah (18650/21700) | High mechanical stability, excellent heat dissipation, standardized | Power tools, e-bikes, EVs (Tesla), portable electronics |
| Prismatic | 50Ah – 320Ah | High energy density per volume, easy to stack, aluminum shell | Home storage, commercial ESS, EV battery packs |
| Pouch | 3Ah – 50Ah | Lightweight, flexible form factor, high energy density | Drones, wearables, slim devices, custom packs |
🔋 Pack Building Quick Reference
How to calculate your pack:
- Voltage (Series): Pack Voltage = Cell Nominal Voltage × Number in Series (S). E.g., 13S NMC = 13 × 3.6V = 46.8V nominal.
- Capacity (Parallel): Pack Capacity = Cell Capacity × Number in Parallel (P). E.g., 5P of 5000mAh = 25,000mAh (25Ah).
- Total Energy: Wh = Pack Voltage × Pack Ah. E.g., 48V × 25Ah = 1,200Wh.
- Max Discharge: Pack Current = Cell CDR × Parallel Count. E.g., 5P × 25A = 125A continuous.
📋 UN38.3 & Shipping Guide
All lithium battery cells require UN38.3 certification for transport. Key requirements:
- UN38.3 — Mandatory safety testing (altitude, thermal, vibration, shock, external short circuit, impact, overcharge, forced discharge)
- MSDS — Material Safety Data Sheet provided with every order
- IATA DGR — Air transport: cells must be at ≤30% SOC, individually packaged
- IMDG Code — Sea transport: Class 9 dangerous goods declaration required
- Labeling — UN3480 (lithium-ion) or UN3481 (lithium-ion in equipment) labels required
Have more questions? Contact our technical team — we’re happy to help with cell selection, pack design, and certification requirements.