As technology has evolved, the use of lithium batteries has gone up quite a lot. These batteries are now used in many things like cell phones, laptops, scanners and hybrid electric trucks.
There are two kinds of lithium batteries:
Lithium metal batteries: These are usually non-rechargeable and are used in things like watches and remote car locks.
Lithium ion batteries: These are rechargeable and are used in cell phones, laptops, and power tools.
Some shipments of lithium batteries don't have to follow all the rules, but there are a lot of things to think about, such as how much power they have and what kind of lithium they use. All shippers have to make sure they're following the rules.
- All lithium batteries are dangerous, but some may be exempt from regulations
- Lithium ion and lithium metal batteries can't be shipped alone on passenger planes
- If a package with a lithium battery label is damaged, it can't go on a plane
- There are markings for lithium batteries. These markings will have the UN number of the batteries on place of the asterisk
- Packages containing lithium batteries that are not exempt, require the Class 9 lithium battery label
