ISO 18243:2025

Overview

ISO 18243:2025 - Electrically propelled mopeds and motorcycles - Test specifications and safety requirements for lithium‑ion battery systems - defines standardized test procedures and safety requirements for lithium‑ion battery packs and systems used in electrically propelled mopeds and motorcycles. The standard enables objective determination and comparison of performance and safety characteristics, and supports configuring a dedicated test plan agreed between customer and supplier. Note: cell‑level testing is covered by the IEC 62660 series and electrically power‑assisted cycles (EPAC) are not considered mopeds under this document.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 18243 organizes requirements and test procedures across safety, mechanical, climatic, electrical, functional and performance domains:

• Safety and general requirements
  • Evidence of leakage, rupture, fire or explosion; isolation resistance checks.
• Mechanical tests
  • Vibration, mechanical shock and drop testing to assess structural integrity.
• Climatic tests
  • Thermal shock, dewing (condensation) and salt‑spray exposure to verify environmental robustness.
• Simulated accident tests
  • Immersion into water and exposure to fire to evaluate behavior under crash or post‑crash scenarios.
• Electrical tests
  • Isolation resistance and short‑circuit protection to confirm electrical safety.
• Functional protection
  • Overcharge, overdischarge, overcurrent, internal overheating and low‑temperature protections to ensure safe operation.
• Performance tests
  • Energy/capacity at different temperatures and discharge rates, power and internal resistance (pulse power characterization), state‑of‑charge (SOC) loss at no load and storage, and cycle life measurement methodologies.
• Test plan and preconditioning
  • Guidance on DUT (device under test) preparation, preconditioning cycles, standard cycle procedures and measurement accuracy.

ISO 18243 provides detailed test sequences and procedures rather than prescriptive numerical limits; it is intended to be used to set up tailored test plans.

Practical applications and users

Who benefits:

• EV motorcycle and moped manufacturers (OEMs) validating battery pack safety and performance
• Battery pack/system suppliers demonstrating compliance and supporting supplier‑customer agreements
• Independent test laboratories creating standardized test reports for comparative evaluation
• Regulatory bodies and certification agencies referencing harmonized test methods
• Safety and reliability engineers assessing failure modes and environmental resilience

Practical uses:

• Creating supplier acceptance test plans
• Comparing battery packs from different vendors under consistent conditions
• Supporting homologation, warranty and safety documentation
• Informing design changes to improve thermal, mechanical and electrical safety

Related standards

• IEC 62660 series - cell‑level testing for lithium‑ion cells
• Other ISO/IEC/UN regulations referenced in the normative references and national homologation requirements

Keywords: ISO 18243, lithium‑ion battery systems, mopeds, motorcycles, battery pack testing, safety requirements, performance testing, battery cycle life, thermal shock, short circuit protection, overcharge protection.