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Battery Pack Capacity-Retention Test — China to Jamaica Corridor

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for verifying capacity-retention of the CATL EnerC + (LFP-280) battery-pack family[1] supplied through the TradVolt EVSE vertical, covering the corridor from the port of export in China (CN) to Kingston, Jamaica (JM). Audience: B2B quality, service, and logistics teams. Equipment family: CATL EnerC + (LFP-280) — containerized LFP battery system (OEM product line: CATL EnerC +, datasheet identifier LFP-280, 280 Ah LFP cell building block).[1][12]

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Verdict & Pass Criterion. For a sampled CATL EnerC + (LFP-280) pack, the accepted pass criterion is a measured State-of-Health (SoH) ≥ 95 % after a default 10-day storage phase at 25 ± 2 °C and 50 ± 5 % SOC, computed as SoH = (C₁ / C₀) × 100 against the IEC 62660-1:2018 baseline discharge.[3][2] Every sampled pack must additionally stay within the OEM end-of-discharge voltage of 2.5 V/cell (min) and below the upper charge limit of 3.65 V/cell, with a per-cell voltage spread ≤ 50 mV.[2] The default end-to-end timeline from Test Order acknowledgement to Pack Release is 17 working days; with CN→Kingston sea transit the total is 21 working days. Storage-system location: Kingston Freeport Terminal, Jamaica; evidence date: 2026-09-22; primary limitation: pack model (CATL EnerC + / LFP-280) and storage SOC set in the Test Order — deviation outside those limits requires explicit OEM and Lab sign-off.

ItemValueSource
Equipment familyCATL EnerC + (LFP-280) — Containerized LFP battery system[1], [12]
OEM manual / referenceCATL EnerC + Product Manual, Rev. 2.3 (2024-08)[2]
OEM end-of-discharge voltage (min)2.5 V/cell (LFP)[2]
OEM upper charge voltage (max)3.65 V/cell[2]
OEM recommended storage SOC50 ± 5 %[2]
OEM storage temperature−10 °C to 45 °C (25 ± 2 °C for baseline)[2]
Cell-to-cell voltage spread limit≤ 50 mV at 100 % SOC[2]
Cycle test standardIEC 62660-1:2018 §7.1 reference discharge[3]
Pass criterion (SoH)≥ 95 % vs. baseline C₀ after storage[3]
Sample sizeISO 2859-1:1999 normal inspection, Level II, AQL 1.0[6]
End-to-end timeline17 working days test + up to 4 days CN→JM transit (21 total)TradVolt corridor model (illustrative)
Location / destination portKingston Freeport Terminal, Jamaica (JM)TradVolt consignment reference
Evidence date2026-09-22—

1. Scope & Applicability

This procedure applies to the CATL EnerC + (LFP-280) family[1][12] of containerized LFP battery packs supplied as part of EV charging-station energy-storage units, prepared for sea freight from China to Jamaica via Kingston Freeport Terminal. The test confirms that a pack retains the agreed minimum percentage of its rated capacity (state-of-health, SoH) after a defined storage interval, so that commissioning teams can sign off the storage subsystem on arrival.

Where the CATL EnerC + Product Manual, Rev. 2.3 (2024-08)[2] imposes a tighter limit than the IEC 62660-1:2018 reference procedure, the OEM manual takes precedence and the deviation is logged in the test report. Substituting a different pack family is out of scope of this SOP; only CATL EnerC + (LFP-280) is approved as a model assumption here until a separate OEM-specific SOP is published.

2. Normative References

3. Step Sequence

Step # Action Owner Input doc Output doc Done-when
1 Receive and register the capacity-retention test request, capturing CATL EnerC + pack serial numbers, target SoH threshold (≥ 95 %), and the destination port (Kingston, JM). Service Coordinator Client Test Request Form Test Order (TR-{order_id}) Test Order logged with linked serial list and acknowledged in writing.
2 Verify pre-shipment documentation against the inbound manifest: OEM Certificate of Conformity (CATL), MSDS, UN 38.3 test summary, and packing list. Document Controller OEM CoC, MSDS, UN 38.3 summary, Packing List Doc-Check Sheet All four documents present and match the manifest quantity; Doc-Check Sheet signed.
3 Select sample packs per ISO 2859-1:1999 normal inspection, General Inspection Level II, with an AQL of 1.0 for functional attributes; record serials.[6] Quality Engineer ISO 2859-1 sampling table Sample Selection Sheet Sampled serials recorded and chain-of-custody opened.
4 Acclimatise sample packs at 25 °C ± 2 °C for a minimum of 6 hours before the baseline cycle, per IEC 62660-1:2018 ambient conditions and CATL storage-temp envelope (−10 °C to 45 °C).[3][2] Lab Technician CATL EnerC + Product Manual Rev. 2.3 §4.2 (storage temp limits) Acclimatisation Log Pack surface temperature within 23–27 °C range, log time-stamped.
5 Run the baseline capacity cycle: CC charge to 3.65 V/cell per CATL profile, CV hold until ≤ 0.05 C, rest 30 minutes, then discharge at the rated constant current I_d to 2.5 V/cell per IEC 62660-1:2018 §7.1; record baseline capacity C₀ in Ah.[3][2] Lab Technician CATL EnerC + Product Manual Rev. 2.3 §5 (charge profile); IEC 62660-1:2018 §7.1 Cycle 1 Report (C₀) C₀ value recorded with cycle time, ambient temp, and cycler channel ID.
6 Reset pack to the OEM-prescribed storage SOC of 50 % ± 5 % per CATL EnerC + Manual Rev. 2.3 §4.3, apply storage profile (default 25 °C, or 40 °C for accelerated ageing) for the defined interval.[2] Lab Technician Test Order; CATL EnerC + Product Manual Rev. 2.3 §4.3 Storage Phase Log Storage duration reached with OCV drift logged at defined checkpoints; cell-to-cell spread ≤ 50 mV.
7 Run the post-storage capacity cycle using the identical procedure as Step 5; record remaining capacity C₁ in Ah. Lab Technician CATL EnerC + Product Manual Rev. 2.3 §5; IEC 62660-1:2018 §7.1 Cycle 2 Report (C₁) C₁ value recorded; cycler raw data exported and archived.
8 Calculate State-of-Health: SoH (%) = (C₁ / C₀) × 100. Compare to the acceptance threshold stated in the Test Order (default ≥ 95 % for new EnerC + packs). Quality Engineer Cycle 1 Report, Cycle 2 Report SoH Calculation Worksheet SoH calculated for every sampled serial and compared to threshold.
9 Issue a Pass/Fail disposition per pack. Failures trigger a non-conformance report referencing the CATL parameter that was missed (e.g., 2.5 V/cell EOD or 50 mV cell spread). Quality Engineer SoH Calculation Worksheet, CATL Manual Rev. 2.3 Disposition Note, NCR-{ncr_id} (if applicable) Each serial has a recorded Pass or Fail with NCR reference for failures.
10 Hand over the released packs to the logistics team for export preparation, with shipment cleared only if all sampled packs have passed. Service Coordinator Disposition Note, Test Order Release for Shipment Note Release for Shipment Note signed; packs may proceed to CN export customs clearance.
11 Archive the full test dossier to the client folder; transmit signed PDF to client and consignee in JM (Kingston Freeport Terminal named as the typical consignee reference only). Document Controller All prior outputs Archived Test Dossier (PDF) Dossier accessible to client via the agreed document portal; receipt confirmed.

3.1 Torque & Mechanical Reference (from CATL EnerC + Manual Rev. 2.3)

The following mechanical limits apply whenever the EnerC + packs are moved, racked, or re-torqued at the lab or on arrival in Kingston:[2]

Fastener / interfaceTorque valueSource
Pack-to-rack M10 bolt35 N·m ± 3 N·mCATL Manual Rev. 2.3 §6.1
DC bus-bar M8 bolt18 N·m ± 2 N·mCATL Manual Rev. 2.3 §6.2
Pack grounding stud M68 N·m ± 1 N·mCATL Manual Rev. 2.3 §6.3

4. Document Checklist

The following files must accompany each test order. Filenames are literal templates; the bracketed tokens are replaced with the actual identifiers at issue time:

A pre-formatted starter pack matching the filenames above is available at: /assets/sop-checklist-battery-capacity-retention-test-cn-jm.pdf.

5. Timeline & Dependencies

Day Activity Dependency
Day 0 Test Order received and acknowledged —
Day 1 Documentation check and ISO 2859-1:1999 sampling Requires inbound docs from CN origin
Day 2 Acclimatisation (≥ 6 h) and baseline cycle Requires lab cycler and CATL charge profile from Manual Rev. 2.3 §5
Day 3 Storage phase begins Requires pack reset to 50 ± 5 % SOC and chamber setpoint
Day 3 – Day 14 Storage interval (configurable; default 10 days at 25 °C) Requires climate-controlled chamber within CATL envelope
Day 15 Post-storage cycle and SoH calculation Requires storage phase completion
Day 16 Disposition and NCR (if any) issued Requires SoH worksheet
Day 17 Release for shipment signed; archive closed Requires disposition to be Pass for all sampled serials
Day 18 – Day 21 CN export customs clearance and sea transit to Kingston (JM) Requires shipping instruction and Jamaica Customs paperwork at arrival

Default end-to-end duration from test-order acknowledgement to release for shipment: 17 working days. Total time including sea transit to Kingston Freeport Terminal: 21 working days (illustrative corridor model).

6. Cost & Duty Information

6.1 Indicative Test Service Cost

Cost slot Value Status
Capacity-retention test setup fee (per test order) indicative Indicative; confirmed in quote
Cycler chamber time (per pack per day) indicative Indicative; depends on chamber availability
Lab technician hours indicative Indicative; confirmed on quotation
Report preparation and archival indicative Indicative

All cost slots above are indicative. A binding quotation is provided with each RFQ response via /rfq/.

6.2 Duty / HS Code Block

HS classification — battery packs for EVSE storage:

Official duty rates are sourced from the relevant national customs / tariff portals:

Disclaimer: HS classification depends on the exact cell chemistry, pack configuration, and intended use at the time of import. TradVolt does not guarantee a specific classification line and the line item must be confirmed against the official customs portal and, where required, a binding ruling (an Advance Ruling or equivalent) from Jamaica Customs before shipment. Duty and tax rates are subject to change; always re-check at the moment of declaration.

6.3 Logistics Reference (Informational)

  • Sea-freight documentation baseline: FIATA forwarding document set, consulted alongside the UN Manual §38.3 transport test summary.[15]
    • Item Value Status
    Recommended Incoterm (sample test order) EXW CN factory → CIP Kingston (JM) Suggested; confirmed in quotation per ICC Incoterms 2020[11]
    Sea transit time CN → Kingston UNCERTAIN Subject to vessel schedule; not committed by TradVolt
    Consignee reference (typical) Kingston Freeport Terminal (placeholder) Final consignee set by client on each shipment

    7. Acceptance & Exception Handling

    8. Records & Retention

    All raw cycler data, calculation worksheets, and signed PDFs are retained for a minimum of 7 years from the date of the Test Order. Retention period aligns with the typical warranty window of stationary lithium-ion installations and with applicable B2B contract terms.

    9. Sources & Further Reading

    1. CATL — EnerC + product family datasheet (LFP-280). Source: CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited) energy-storage datasheet PDF. URL: https://www.catl.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/EnerC-Plus-LFP-280-Datasheet-Rev-2.3-EN.pdf. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    2. CATL EnerC + Product Manual, Rev. 2.3 (2024-08). Source: CATL technical documentation portal. URL: https://www.catl.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/EnerC-Plus-Product-Manual-Rev-2.3-EN.pdf. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    3. IEC 62660-1:2018, "Secondary lithium-ion cells for the propulsion of electric road vehicles — Part 1: Performance testing." Source: IEC Webstore. URL: https://webstore.iec.ch/publication/61194. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    4. UL 1973, 2nd edition (2022), "Standard for Batteries for Use in Stationary, Vehicle Auxiliary Power and Light Electric Rail (LE) Applications." Source: UL. URL: https://www.shopulstandards.com/ProductDetail.aspx?productId=UL1973_2_S_20220829. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    5. IEC 62133-2:2017, "Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes — Safety requirements for portable sealed secondary lithium cells, for use in portable applications — Part 2: Lithium systems." Source: IEC Webstore. URL: https://webstore.iec.ch/publication/33753. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    6. ISO 2859-1:1999, "Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes — Part 1: Sampling schemes indexed by acceptance quality limit (AQL) for lot-by-lot inspection." Source: ISO. URL: https://www.iso.org/standard/1140.html. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    7. UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods — Manual of Tests and Criteria, 7th revised edition, Section 38.3 (Lithium batteries). Source: UNECE. URL: https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/ST-SG-AC10-11-Rev7-Amend1-38.3e.pdf. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    8. Jamaica Customs Agency — official portal (national tariff / duty lookup, Jamaica). Source: Jamaica Customs Agency. URL: https://www.jacustoms.gov.jm. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    9. General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) — English portal (export tariff / VAT lookup, China). Source: GACC. URL: http://english.customs.gov.cn. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    10. USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule — search portal (national tariff lookup, United States). Source: United States International Trade Commission. URL: https://hts.usitc.gov/. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    11. Incoterms® 2020 — ICC rules page. Source: International Chamber of Commerce. URL: https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/incoterms-rules/incoterms-2020/. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    12. CATL — Energy Storage Systems product landing page (lists the EnerC + family and LFP-280 building block). Source: CATL. URL: https://www.catl.com/en/ess/. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    13. IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) — programme landing page. Source: International Air Transport Association. URL: https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/dgr/. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    14. European Commission — TARIC consultation (EU tariff / duty lookup). Source: European Commission, DG TAXUD. URL: https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/taric/taric_consultation.jsp?Lang=en. Accessed 2026-09-22.
    15. FIATA — International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (forwarding document references). Source: FIATA. URL: https://fiata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-22.
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    © TradVolt. This SOP is provided for informational purposes. Compliance with local regulations at the destination port remains the responsibility of the importer of record.