oSIST prEN IEC 62973-2:2025/oprAA:2026
(Amendment)Railway applications - Rolling stock - Batteries for auxiliary power supply systems - Part 2: Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries
General Information
- Abstract
The part 2 of IEC 62973 will get a European annex.
The European annex will contain additions regarding European operating conditions (such as temperature) and requirements (such as such as discharging/charging characteristic, application of guidelines TR 50718) as well as general additions (which are contained in EN 50547 and are missing in the IEC-version).
- Status
- Not Published
- Public Enquiry End Date
- 30-Sep-2026
- Technical Committee
- ŽEN - Electrical applications for railways
- Current Stage
- 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
- Start Date
- 12-Aug-2026
- Due Date
- 30-Dec-2026
Overview
oSIST prEN IEC 62973-2:2025/oprAA:2026 is a European draft standard developed by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST) in collaboration with CENELEC. It specifies requirements for Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries used in auxiliary power supply systems on railway rolling stock. This document amends the IEC 62973-2 by introducing a dedicated European annex addressing regional operating conditions, technical requirements, and compliance with related European guidelines and standards.
The standard aims to harmonize specifications for NiCd batteries across European railways, ensuring reliability, safety, and interoperability of auxiliary battery systems under various environmental conditions.
Key Topics
European Operating Conditions:
The annex adapts IEC 62973-2 to specific European temperature ranges and other environmental requirements, aligning with EN 50125-1 for on-board equipment.Charging and Discharging Characteristics:
The amendment provides updated guidance for NiCd battery charging and discharging, including temperature compensation and recommended voltages, referencing newly updated IEC 60623 and IEC 62259 standards.Battery Capacity and Sizing:
The document details procedures for capacity sizing of NiCd batteries in rolling stock, factoring in state of charge (SOC), ambient temperatures, load profiles, battery aging, and life expectancy.Safety and Fire Protection:
Compliance with CLC/TR 50718 guidelines ensures enhanced fire safety for NiCd batteries on railway vehicles.Battery Information System:
The standard addresses the challenges of energy calculation in NiCd batteries in service due to non-linear voltage discharge characteristics, emphasizing careful monitoring and integration methods.
Applications
Railway Rolling Stock:
The standard is directly applicable to auxiliary power systems on trains, ensuring NiCd batteries meet European operational and safety requirements.Battery Selection and Design:
Train manufacturers and battery suppliers utilize these specifications for selecting and designing battery systems that operate reliably under both everyday and extreme conditions typical in European rail networks.Maintenance and Compliance:
Operators and maintenance teams benefit from standardized procedures for battery selection, installation, and monitoring, facilitating regulatory compliance and interoperability throughout Europe.Fire Safety Protocols:
Adoption of the guidelines helps rail operators address fire hazards associated with battery systems, supporting the safe implementation of NiCd technology in high-demand rail environments.
Related Standards
When implementing oSIST prEN IEC 62973-2:2025/oprAA:2026, consider the following related standards:
- EN 50125-1: Railway applications - Environmental conditions for equipment - Part 1: Rolling stock and on-board equipment
- EN 50155: Railway applications - Rolling stock - Electronic equipment
- CLC/TR 50718: Guidelines for the use of EN 45545-2 for Ni-Cd batteries on board rolling stock
- IEC 60623 (2026): Vented nickel-cadmium prismatic rechargeable cells and batteries for industrial applications
- IEC 62259 (2026): Nickel-cadmium prismatic rechargeable cells with partial gas recombination
- IEC 61434: Guide to the designation of current in alkaline secondary cell and battery standards
- prEN IEC 62973-3: Railway applications - Batteries for auxiliary power supply systems - Part 3: Lead acid batteries
Practical Value
By specifying harmonized requirements, this standard enhances safety, reliability, and performance of NiCd batteries in European railway applications. It supports operators, manufacturers, and integrators in achieving durable, compliant, and interoperable battery systems for auxiliary power supply in rail transport. Adoption of oSIST prEN IEC 62973-2:2025/oprAA:2026 ensures that NiCd battery solutions are matched to the unique demands of European railway infrastructure.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 25-Feb-2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
oSIST prEN IEC 62973-2:2025/oprAA:2026 is a draft published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Railway applications - Rolling stock - Batteries for auxiliary power supply systems - Part 2: Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries". This standard covers: The part 2 of IEC 62973 will get a European annex. The European annex will contain additions regarding European operating conditions (such as temperature) and requirements (such as such as discharging/charging characteristic, application of guidelines TR 50718) as well as general additions (which are contained in EN 50547 and are missing in the IEC-version).
The part 2 of IEC 62973 will get a European annex. The European annex will contain additions regarding European operating conditions (such as temperature) and requirements (such as such as discharging/charging characteristic, application of guidelines TR 50718) as well as general additions (which are contained in EN 50547 and are missing in the IEC-version).
oSIST prEN IEC 62973-2:2025/oprAA:2026 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 29.220.99 - Other cells and batteries; 45.060.01 - Railway rolling stock in general. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
oSIST prEN IEC 62973-2:2025/oprAA:2026 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to oSIST prEN IEC 62973-2:2025. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
oSIST prEN IEC 62973-2:2025/oprAA:2026 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2026
Železniške naprave - Vozna sredstva - Baterije za pomožne napajalne sisteme - 2.
del: Nikelj-kadmij (NiCd) baterije - Dopolnilo AA
Railway applications - Rolling stock - Batteries for auxiliary power supply systems - Part
2: Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries
Bahnanwendungen - Fahrzeuge - Batterien für Bordnetzversorgungssysteme - Teil 2:
Nickel-Cadmium-Batterien (NiCd-Batterien)
Applications ferroviaires - Matériel roulant - Batteries pour systèmes d'alimentation
auxiliaire - Partie 2: Batteries au Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN IEC 62973-2:2025/prAA:2026
ICS:
29.220.99 Drugi členi in baterije Other cells and batteries
45.060.01 Železniška vozila na splošno Railway rolling stock in
general
oSIST prEN IEC 62973- en
2:2025/oprAA:2026
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EUROPEAN STANDARD DRAFT
prEN IEC 62973-2:2025
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
prAA
August 2026
ICS 45.060.01; 29.220.99 -
English Version
Railway applications - Rolling stock - Batteries for auxiliary
power supply systems - Part 2: Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries
Applications ferroviaires - Matériel roulant - Batteries pour Bahnanwendungen - Fahrzeuge - Batterien für
systèmes d'alimentation auxiliaire - Partie 2: Batteries au Bordnetzversorgungssysteme - Teil 2: Nickel-Cadmium-
Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) Batterien (NiCd-Batterien)
This draft amendment prAA, if approved, will modify the European Standard prEN IEC 62973-2:2025; it is submitted to CENELEC members
for enquiry.
Deadline for CENELEC: 2026-10-30.
It has been drawn up by CLC/TC 9X.
If this draft becomes an amendment, CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which
stipulate the conditions for giving this amendment the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft amendment was established by CENELEC in three official versions (English, French, German).
A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to
the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to
provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without notice and
shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Project: 81134 Ref. No. prEN IEC 62973-2:2025/prAA:2026 E
1 Contents Page
2 European foreword . 3
3 1 Modification to Clause 2, “Normative references” . 4
4 2 Modification to 3.1, “Terms and definitions” . 4
5 3 Modification to 3.2, “Abbreviated terms” . 4
6 4 Modification to 4.2.5, “Pocket plate/electrode technology” . 4
7 5 Modification to 4.4.1, “System voltage” . 4
8 6 Modification to 4.4.2, "Charging requirements" . 4
9 7 Modification to 4.4.4, "Charge retention (self-discharge)" . 6
10 8 Modification to 4.4.5, “Requirements for battery capacity sizing" . 6
11 9 Modification to 4.6, "Fire protection" . 7
12 10 Modification to 4.9.2, "Battery information system" . 7
13 11 Modifications to the Bibliography . 8
14 European foreword
15 This document (prEN IEC 62973-2:2025/prAA:2026) has been prepared by CLC/SC 9XB “Electrical, electronic
16 and electromechanical material on board rolling stock, including associated software”.
17 This document is currently submitted to the Enquiry.
18 The following dates are proposed:
• latest date by which the existence of this (doa) dav + 6 months
document has to be announced at national level
• latest date by which this document has to be (dop) dav + 12 months
implemented at national level by publication of
an identical national standard or by
endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards (dow) dav + 36 months
conflicting with this document have to be (to be confirmed or
withdrawn modified when voting)
19 1 Modification to Clause 2, “Normative references”
20 Replace the reference to IEC 60623:2017 in Clause 2 and throughout the text with the following:
21 IEC/FDIS 60623:2026, Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes -
22 Vented nickel-cadmium prismatic rechargeable cells and batteries for use in industrial applications
23 Replace the reference to IEC 62259:2003 in Clause 2 and throughout the text with the following:
24 IEC/FDIS 62259:2026, Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes - Nickel-
25 cadmium prismatic rechargeable cells with partial gas recombination and batteries for use in industrial
26 applications
27 2 Modification to 3.1, “Terms and definitions”
28 Add the following new term entry:
29 “
30 3.1.15
31 reference test current
32 charge or discharge current of a cell or battery, expressed in amperes, having the same numerical value as the
33 rated capacity of that cell or battery, expressed in ampere-hours
34 EXAMPLE For a battery rated at 5 Ah during an n-hour discharge, the reference test current I equals 5 A.
t
35 Note 1 to entry: As opposed to the rated current the reference test current is independent of the rate capability of the
36 battery.
37 [SOURCE: IEC 61434:1996]”
38 3 Modification to 3.2, “Abbreviated terms”
39 Add the following abbreviation:
“It reference test current (see 3.1.15)”
40 4 Modification to 4.2.5, “Pocket plate/electrode technology”
41 Add
...