EN 50342-6:2015

Lead-acid starter batteries - Part 6: Batteries for Micro-Cycle Applications

Publication date:   Feb 15, 2016

Scope

This European Standard is applicable to lead-acid batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V, used primarily as power source for the starting of internal combustion engines (ICE), lighting and also for auxiliary equipment of ICE vehicles. These batteries are commonly called "starter batteries". Batteries with a nominal voltage of 6 V are also included in the scope of this standard. All referenced voltages need to be divided by two for 6 V batteries. The batteries under scope of this standard are used for micro-cycle applications in vehicles which can also be called Start-Stop (or Stop-Start, idling-stop system, micro-hybrid or idle-stop-and-go) applications. In cars with this special capability, the internal combustion engine is switched off during a complete vehicle stop, during idling with low speed or during idling without the need of supporting the vehicle movement by the internal combustion engine. During the phases in which the engine is switched off, most of the electric and electronic components of the car need to be supplied by the battery without support of the alternator. In addition, in most cases an additional regenerative braking (recuperation or regeneration of braking energy) function is installed. The batteries under these applications are stressed in a completely different way compared to classical starter batteries. Aside of these additional properties, those batteries need to crank the ICE and support the lighting and also auxiliary functions in a standard operating mode with support of the alternator when the internal combustion engine is switched on. All batteries under this scope need to fulfil basic functions, which are tested under application of EN 50342-1:2015.
This European Standard is applicable to batteries for the following purposes:
- Lead-acid batteries of the dimensions according to EN 50342-2 for vehicles with the capability to automatically switch off the ICE during vehicle operation either in standstill or moving ("Start-Stop");
- Lead-acid batteries of the dimensions according to EN 50342-2 for vehicles with Start-Stop applications with the capability to recover braking energy or energy from other sources.
This standard is not applicable to batteries for purposes other than mentioned above, but it is applicable to EFB delivered in dry-charged conditions according to EN 50342 1:2015, Clause 7.
NOTE The applicability of this standard also for batteries according to EN 50342-4 is under consideration.