At the conclusion of our webinar, Hidden Costs and Challenges of Offshore Battery Pack Manufacturing, we had several questions submitted to our presenter, Battery Product Manager Anton Beck. We compiled these into a readable format on our blog.
Q&A From Our Live Webinar
Quick Links:
- How will you know if you're receiving batteries with counterfeit parts in them?
- Is your process FEOC compliant?
- What are the minimum order quantities you're referring to?
- Does Epec own the China facilities?
- How does a broker or purchasing direct from a China facility confirm the quality of the battery pack?
- Are you limited to a certain type of battery?
- How would you manage a quality issue if purchasing direct from a China facility?
- Can you build a product with pouch batteries?
- What is the difference between shipping prototypes versus production?
Watch the Recording Below:
Question: How will you know if you're receiving batteries with counterfeit parts in them?
Answer: Unless you have an incoming inspection that confirms quality and breaks down samples for the batteries, you may never know, unless there are problems out in the field and customer return failures that you bring back for analysis, but by then, it's too late.
Question: Is your process FEOC compliant?
Answer: Yes. We are compliant with all import and export data management.
Question: What are the minimum order quantities you're referring to?
Answer: Minimum order quantities vary for different types of battery packs through different suppliers. And it's all contingent on the type of cell, the configuration, how many cells are in the battery pack, and the electronics used. There are a lot of variables. That needs to be determined upfront with whoever you may be working with if you're going direct.
Question: Does Epec own the China facilities?
Answer: No, we don’t own them, but we have qualified the ones we use and have an Epec team in China that works closely with them on quality and logistics.
Question: How does a broker or purchasing direct from a China facility confirm the quality of the battery pack?
Answer: Well, that depends on who you're working with. It would be your responsibility to determine what testing and inspection reports you require. And it would be in your best interest to request or receive before the batteries are shipped from China to be sure everything that you requested is documented. You can ask for photos upfront, but that's the only way that you can assure it from the China facility. I'm not sure that your broker can do that.
Question: Are you limited to a certain type of battery?
Answer: We can support all types of chemistries except for very limited lead-acid batteries.
Question: How would you manage a quality issue if purchasing direct from a China facility?
Answer: Unless you have an established relationship with the factory, it's going to be a difficult process. You can't ship batteries back into China. They won't accept them. So, most likely, it's detailed with emails, photos, and phone calls. And keep in mind, you've paid for these upfront, and China won't provide you a refund. They'll offer to make them, but you'll need additional time to recover. And I don't know if you have that within your timeframe.
Question: Can you build a product with pouch batteries?
Answer: Yes, we have several customers we support with this technology.
Question: What is the difference between shipping prototypes versus production?
Answer: When you're shipping lithium prototypes, there's a special exemption based on the quantity and weight. And you also need to contract with a freight forwarder who's going to accept these uncertified samples. If they get hung up, it's very likely you'll never see them. In the U.S., if the samples are considered class 9 hazardous and require appropriate metal cans with ground shipment only. And once you get into production, the UN38.3 transportation is certified, and the batteries can be shipped by air with appropriate packaging and labeling, which is also key because anything can get stopped if it's not properly labeled. And then getting it out of customs is a very difficult process.
Key Takeaways
- Verifying battery pack quality from offshore suppliers requires detailed inspection procedures, documentation, and testing before shipment, otherwise counterfeit or substandard components may go undetected until field failures occur.
- Minimum order quantities for custom battery packs vary significantly depending on cell chemistry, pack configuration, electronics, and supplier requirements, making upfront planning essential.
- Managing quality issues directly with overseas facilities can be difficult and time-consuming, especially since defective batteries are often difficult or impossible to return internationally.
- Shipping lithium battery prototypes involves stricter transportation limitations, hazardous material requirements, and specialized freight handling compared to certified production shipments.
- Working with experienced battery manufacturing partners that maintain on-the-ground quality and logistics support in Asia can help reduce supply chain risks, improve oversight, and simplify communication during production.
