Lead-Acid Traction Batteries

IEC TR 61431:2020 is an informative document relating to aspects of automatic monitor systems as utilized in lead-acid traction battery applications. It lists the characteristics and features that need to be monitored and evaluated to properly assess the operative status of a traction battery. Guidance concerning the accuracy and reliability of the generated information is also provided.

This Technical Report covers the opportunity charging of lead-acid traction batteries, i.e. the use of free time during a working period to top up the charge and thus extend the working day of a battery whilst avoiding excessive discharge. The object of this report is to lay down rules or recommendations for the use of opportunity- charging of lead-acid traction batteries of vented and valve-regulated types, when the battery manufacturer has not recommended the required operating procedures. When the battery manufacturer's recommendations are available, they take precedence over these rules and guidelines.

This part of IEC 60254 is applicable to lead-acid traction batteries used as power sources for electric propulsion. The object of the present standard is to specify: - the maximum external (overall) dimensions of traction battery cells, that is, the width, the height and the length; - the form of the marking of traction battery cell polarity and dimensions of corresponding symbols; - the basic dimensions of some commonly used traction battery terminals designed to connect output cables to the battery; - the dimensions of cells commonly used in Asia and North America. This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 1997 and its Amendment 1 (2000). It constitutes a technical revision. The main modification concerns the introduction of new dimensions.

This part of IEC 60254 is applicable to lead acid traction batteries used as power sources for electric propulsion. The tests defined are relevant to all traction battery applications which include road vehicles, locomotives, industrial trucks and mechanical handling equipments. Tests which may be used specifically to test batteries developed for use in vehicles such as light passenger vehicles, motor cycles, light commercial vehicles, etc. may be found in alternative standards e.g. IEC 61982-2. The object of this standard is to specify certain essential characteristics of traction batteries or cells, together with the relevant test methods of those characteristics.