[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 98 (Friday, May 20, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31827-31844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11486]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 98 / Friday, May 20, 2016 / Rules and 
Regulations  

[[Page 31827]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Parts 429 and 430

[Docket No. EERE-2014-BT-TP-0044]
RIN 1904-AD45


Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Battery Chargers

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On August 6, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') 
issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR'') to amend the test 
procedure for battery chargers. This final rule is based on that NOPR. 
The final rule amends the current test procedure, incorporating changes 
that will take effect 30 days after the final rule publication date. 
These changes will be mandatory for product testing to demonstrate 
compliance with any future energy conservation standards that DOE may 
adopt and for any representations made regarding the energy consumption 
or energy efficiency of battery chargers starting 180 days after 
publication of this rule. In summary, these changes update the battery 
selection criteria for multi-voltage, multi-capacity battery chargers, 
harmonize the instrumentation resolution and uncertainty requirements 
with the second edition of the International Electrotechnical 
Commission (``IEC'') 62301 standard for measuring standby power, define 
and exclude back-up battery chargers from the testing requirements of 
this rulemaking, outline provisions for conditioning lead acid 
batteries, specify sampling and certification requirements for 
compliance with future energy conservation standards, and correct 
typographical errors in the current test procedure.

DATES: The effective date of this rule is June 20, 2016. The final rule 
changes will be mandatory for representations made starting November 
16, 2016. The incorporation by reference of certain material listed in 
this rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of 
June 20, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The docket, which includes Federal Register notices, public 
meeting attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting 
documents/materials, is available for review at www.regulations.gov. 
All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov 
index. However, some documents listed in the index, such as those 
containing information that is exempt from public disclosure, may not 
be publicly available.
    A link to the docket Web page can be found at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2014-BT-TP-0044. The 
www.regulations.gov Web page contains simple instructions on how to 
access all documents, including public comments, in the docket.
    For further information on how to review the docket, contact Ms. 
Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 or by email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
Mr. Jeremy Dommu, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-2J, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: 
(202) 586-9870. Email: 
[email protected].
Mr. Pete Cochran, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Telephone: (202) 586-9496. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule incorporates the resolution 
parameters for power measurements and uncertainty methodologies found 
in section 4 of IEC 62301, Edition 2.0, 2011-01, ``Household electrical 
appliances--Measurement of standby power'', (``IEC 62301'') by 
reference into part 430.
    Copies of the IEC 62301 standard can be obtained from the IEC's 
webstore at https://webstore.iec.ch/home.

Table of Contents

I. Authority and Background
II. Summary of the Final Rule
III. Discussion
    A. Measurement Accuracy and Precision
    B. Battery Selection and Testing of Multi-Voltage, Multi-
Capacity Battery Chargers
    C. Back-Up Battery Chargers
    D. Conditioning and Discharge Rate for Lead Acid Battery 
Chargers
    E. Sampling and Certification Requirements
    F. Enforcement Testing Sampling Plan
    G. Corrections to Typographical Errors
    H. Limiting Other Non-Battery-Charger Functions
    I. Discharging Lithium Ion Batteries
IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review
    A. Review Under Executive Order 12866
    B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
    C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
    D. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
    E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
    F. Review Under Executive Order 12988
    G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    H. Review Under the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act, 1999
    I. Review Under Executive Order 12630
    J. Review Under Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 2001
    K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
    L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration 
Act of 1974
    M. Description of Material Incorporated by Reference
    N. Congressional Notification
V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

I. Authority and Background

    Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (42 
U.S.C. 6291, et seq.; ``EPCA'' or, ``the Act'') sets forth a variety of 
provisions designed to improve energy efficiency.\1\ Part B of title 
III, which for editorial reasons was redesignated as Part A upon 
incorporation into the U.S. Code (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309, as codified), 
established the ``Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products 
Other Than Automobiles.'' Battery chargers are among the consumer 
products affected by these provisions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ All references to EPCA refer to the statute as amended 
through the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, Public Law 
114-11 (April 30, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under EPCA, the energy conservation program consists essentially of 
four parts: (1) Testing, (2) labeling, (3) Federal energy conservation 
standards, and (4) certification and enforcement

[[Page 31828]]

procedures. The testing requirements consist of test procedures that 
manufacturers of covered products must use as the basis for (1) 
ensuring their products comply with the applicable energy conservation 
standards adopted under EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6295(s)), and (2) making 
representations about the efficiency of those products (42 U.S.C. 
6293(c)). Similarly, DOE must use these test procedures to determine 
whether the products comply with any relevant standards promulgated 
under EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6295(s))
    EPCA sets forth the criteria and procedures DOE must follow when 
prescribing or amending test procedures for covered products. EPCA 
provides that any new or amended test procedure must be reasonably 
designed to produce test results which measure energy efficiency, 
energy use, or estimated annual operating cost of a covered product 
during a representative average use cycle or period of use and must not 
be unduly burdensome to conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3))
    In addition, if DOE determines that a test procedure amendment is 
warranted, it must publish a proposed test procedure and offer the 
public an opportunity to present oral and written comments. (42 U.S.C. 
6293(b)(2)) Finally, in any rulemaking to amend a test procedure, DOE 
must determine to what extent, if any, the proposed test procedure 
would alter the measured energy efficiency of the covered product as 
determined under the existing test procedure. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(1))
    The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (``EPACT 2005''), Public Law 109-58 
(Aug. 8, 2005), amended EPCA by adding provisions related to battery 
chargers. Among these provisions were definitions outlining what 
constitutes a battery charger and a requirement that DOE prescribe 
definitions and test procedures for the power use of battery chargers 
and external power supplies. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(1)(A)) DOE complied 
with this requirement by publishing a test procedure final rule on 
December 8, 2006, that established a new Appendix Y to address the 
testing of battery chargers to measure their energy consumption and 
adopted several definitions related to the testing of battery chargers. 
71 FR 71340 (codified at appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 
``Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Battery 
Chargers''). Lastly, DOE incorporated by reference specific sections of 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (``EPA'') ``Test Methodology 
for Determining the Energy Performance of Battery Charging Systems'' 
\2\ when measuring inactive mode energy consumption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ``Test Methodology for 
Determining the Energy Performance of Battery Charging Systems.'' 
December 2005. Available at: https://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/prod_development/downloads/Battery_Chargers_Test_Method.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (``EISA 2007''), 
Public Law 110-140 (Dec. 19, 2007) later amended EPCA by defining 
active mode, standby mode, and off mode. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(A)) 
EISA 2007 also directed DOE to amend its existing test procedure by 
December 31, 2008, to measure the energy consumed in standby mode and 
off mode for battery chargers. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(B)(i)) Further, 
it authorized DOE to amend, by rule, any of the definitions for active, 
standby, and off modes. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(B)) Accordingly, DOE 
issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) on August 15, 2008 (73 FR 
48054), and a final rule on March 27, 2009 (74 FR 13318) to establish 
definitions for these terms.
    Subsequently, in response to numerous testing issues raised by 
commenters in the context of DOE's energy conservation standards 
rulemaking efforts for battery chargers, DOE issued another NOPR on 
April 2, 2010. 75 FR 16958. The NOPR proposed adding a new active mode 
energy consumption test procedure for battery chargers that would 
assist in developing potential energy conservation standards for these 
products. DOE also proposed amending portions of its standby and off 
mode battery charger test procedure to shorten overall measurement 
time. DOE held a public meeting to discuss its test procedure NOPR on 
May 7, 2010, where it also received comments on the proposals set forth 
in the NOPR. After receiving comments at the public meeting, DOE 
published a final rule that codified a new active mode test procedure 
and amended the standby and off mode test procedures. 76 FR 31750 (June 
1, 2011). As federal standards for battery chargers have yet to be 
finalized, DOE has not required manufacturers to submit energy 
efficiency data for their products tested under the battery charger 
test procedure.
    Following the publication of the most recent battery charger test 
procedure final rule, DOE continued to receive additional questions and 
requests for clarification regarding the testing, rating, and 
classification of battery chargers. As part of the continuing effort to 
establish federal energy conservation standards for battery chargers 
and to develop a clear and widely applicable test procedure, DOE 
published a Notice of Data Availability (NODA) on May 15, 2014. 79 FR 
27774. The NODA sought stakeholder comments concerning the 
repeatability of the test procedure for battery chargers with several 
consumer configurations, and on anticipated market penetration of new 
battery charging technologies that may require further revisions to 
DOE's regulations. DOE also sought stakeholder comments on the 
reporting methodologies for manufacturers attempting to comply with 
California's Energy Commission's (CEC's) efficiency standards for 
battery chargers in order to understand certain data discrepancies in 
the CEC database. DOE indicated its interest in soliciting feedback to 
determine whether the current procedure contained any ambiguities 
requiring clarification. These issues were discussed during DOE's NODA 
public meeting on June 3, 2014.
    To improve the repeatability and reproducibility of the battery 
charger test procedure, DOE issued a NOPR on August 6, 2015 (``August 
2015 NOPR''), which, based on stakeholder comments to the NODA, 
proposed amendments to appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 and 
to 10 CFR part 429. 80 FR 46855. DOE then held a public meeting to 
discuss these proposed amendments on September 15, 2015 and allowed for 
written comments to be submitted through October 20, 2015. This rule 
addresses comments that were received on the proposal, and finalizes 
many of the proposed changes to appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 
430 and to 10 CFR part 429.

II. Summary of the Final Rule

    This final rule makes several amendments to the current test 
procedure for battery chargers. First, the final rule harmonizes the 
current test procedure for battery chargers with the latest version of 
the IEC 62301 standard by providing specific resolution and measurement 
tolerances. This amendment ensures that the measurements resulting from 
the current test procedure are repeatable and reproducible.
    Second, the final rule amends the battery selection criteria for 
multi-voltage, multi-capacity battery chargers to limit the number of 
batteries selected for testing to one. For multi-voltage, multi-
capacity battery chargers, the battery with the highest rated voltage 
is to be selected for testing. If at least two batteries meet the 
criteria of having the highest rated voltage, then the battery with the 
highest rated charge capacity at that rated voltage is to be selected 
for testing.

[[Page 31829]]

    Third, the final rule defines and excludes back-up battery chargers 
embedded in continuous use devices from being required to be tested 
under the battery charger test procedure.
    Fourth, the final rule allows lead acid batteries to be conditioned 
prior to testing by applying the protocol currently used for other 
battery chemistries (excluding lithium-ion). DOE is aware that a lead 
acid battery's condition may vary upon purchase and this variation can 
impact the performance of lead acid batteries. Conditioning of these 
batteries prior to testing will help mitigate the extent of this 
variation and reduce the variability of the test results.
    Fifth, the final rule adds product-specific certification reporting 
requirements to 10 CFR 429.39(b), which had been reserved. The final 
rule also adds a sampling methodology to be used for determining 
representations of battery charger energy consumption and also adds 
provisions for enforcement testing. These amendments specify the 
required data elements to certify compliance with any energy 
conservation standards for battery chargers that DOE may adopt, 
describe how to calculate the representations, and provide a method for 
DOE to enforce compliance with any energy conservation standards for 
battery chargers that DOE may promulgate.
    Sixth, the final rule corrects an internal cross-reference error in 
the current version of Table 3.1 contained in appendix Y to subpart B 
of 10 CFR part 430, adds units of measurement to the measured and 
calculated values in the table, and removes the empty value column 
currently contained in that table. Additionally, the final rule 
corrects a typographical error in section 5.8(c)(2) of appendix Y to 
subpart B of 10 CFR part 430.
    Table II-1 below summarizes the changes and affected sections of 10 
CFR parts 429 and 430.

Table II-1--Summary of Changes and Affected Sections of 10 CFR Parts 429
                                 and 430
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Modified sections                Summary of modifications
------------------------------------------------------------------------
429.39 Battery Chargers...........   Revised requirements for
                                     determining represented values for
                                     battery chargers in 429.39(a).
                                     Created a new paragraph
                                     (b), specifying requirements for
                                     certifications of compliance with
                                     energy conservation standards for
                                     battery chargers.
430.2. Definitions................   Added definition of ``back-
                                     up battery charger.''
1. Scope..........................   Inserted exceptions for
                                     back-up battery chargers embedded
                                     in continuous use devices.
2. Definitions....................   Inserted unit in the
                                     definition of C-Rate in section
                                     2.10.
                                     Renamed ``rated battery
                                     voltages'' as ``Nameplate battery
                                     voltages'' in section 2.17.
                                     Renamed ``Rated battery
                                     voltage'' as ``Nameplate battery
                                     voltage'' in section 2.19.
                                     Renamed ``Rated charge
                                     capacity'' as ``Nameplate battery
                                     charge capacity'' in section 2.20.
                                     Renamed ``Rated energy
                                     capacity'' as ``Nameplate battery
                                     energy capacity'' in section 2.21.
3. Standard Test Conditions.......   Incorporated by reference
                                     the uncertainty requirements of IEC
                                     62301 in 3.2(a).
                                     Corrected the internal
                                     cross reference in Table 3.1 for
                                     item 4 and modified the table by
                                     removing the current ``value''
                                     column and adding units to the
                                     table as appropriate.
4. Unit Under Test (UUT) Setup       Revised 4.3(a)(1) to remove
 Requirements.                       the possibility of
                                     misinterpretation regarding
                                     selection of batteries to use for
                                     testing for battery chargers
                                     packaged with multiple batteries.
                                     Clarified in section 4.3(b)
                                     that a single battery must be
                                     selected as a result of applying
                                     the battery selection criteria in
                                     Table 4.1. Inserted a paragraph in
                                     section 4.3(b) to require selecting
                                     the single battery resulting in the
                                     highest maintenance mode power when
                                     following Table 4.1 results in two
                                     or more distinct batteries.
                                     Changed ``rated charge
                                     capacity'' and ``rated charge
                                     capacities'' to ``nameplate battery
                                     charge capacity'' and ``nameplate
                                     battery charge capacities,''
                                     respectively, in section 4.3(c).
                                     Updated Table 4.1 to remove
                                     instances of multiple batteries for
                                     test and instructed that, where
                                     applicable, the battery with the
                                     highest voltage must be selected
                                     for testing. If multiple batteries
                                     meet the criteria of highest
                                     voltage, then the battery with the
                                     highest charge capacity at that
                                     voltage must be selected for
                                     testing. Removed column ``number of
                                     tests.''
5. Test Measurements..............   Changed ``rated battery
                                     voltage'', ``rated charge
                                     capacity'' and ``rated charge
                                     energy'' to ``nameplate battery
                                     voltage'', ``nameplate battery
                                     charge capacity'' and ``nameplate
                                     battery energy capacity,''
                                     respectively, in section 5.1.
                                     Removed reference to lead
                                     acid batteries from section 5.3(a).
                                     Inserted provision for lead
                                     acid batteries to be discharged to
                                     end-of-discharge voltages specified
                                     in Table 5.2.
                                     Removed reference to lead
                                     acid from section 5.3(d).
                                     Corrected the unit of
                                     discharge current to ``C'' in
                                     section 5.8(c)(2).
                                     Added footnote in Table 5.2
                                     regarding situations with
                                     protective circuits preventing
                                     batteries from reaching the
                                     specified discharge voltage.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Discussion

    In response to the August 2015 NOPR, DOE received written comments 
from 18 interested parties, including manufacturers, trade 
associations, standards development organizations, energy efficiency 
advocacy groups, and a foreign government. Table III-1 below lists the 
entities that commented on that NOPR and their affiliation. These 
comments are discussed in more detail below, and the full set of 
comments can be found at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketBrowser;rpp=25;po=0;dct=PS;D=EERE-2014-BT-TP-0044.

[[Page 31830]]



  Table III-1--Interested Parties That Provided Written Comments on the
                            August 2015 NOPR
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Comment No.
             Commenter                     Acronym            (docket
                                                            reference)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Association of Home Appliance       Joint Commenters....              16
 Manufacturers, Power Tool
 Institute and Outdoor Power
 Equipment Institute.
ARRIS Group, Inc and Cisco          ARRIS...............              19
 Systems, Inc.
California Energy Commission......  CEC.................              08
California Investor Owned           CA IOUs.............              21
 Utilities.
Delta-Q Technologies Corp.........  Delta-Q.............              11
Information Technology Industry     ITI.................              17
 Council.
iRobot Corp.......................  iRobot..............              07
Japan Four Electric and Electronic  Japan 4EE...........              06
 Industrial Associations.
Johnson Outdoor Marine              JOME................              02
 Electronics, Inc.
National Electrical Manufacturers   NEMA................              13
 Association.
National Marine Manufacturers       NMMA................              09
 Association.
Natural Resources Defense Council,  NRDC, et al.........              20
 Appliance Standards Awareness
 Project, and Northwest Energy
 Efficiency Alliance.
NOPR Public Meeting Transcript,     Pub. Mtg. Tr........              04
 various parties.
People's Republic of China........  P. R. China.........              05
Power MergerCo, Inc...............  Power MergerCo......              15
Power Tools Institute and Outdoor   PTI/OPEI............              14
 Power Equipment Institute.
Schneider Electric................  Schneider Electric..              12
Telecommunications Industry         TIA.................              10
 Association.
WAHL Clipper Corp.................  WAHL Clipper........              18
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Measurement Accuracy and Precision

    To continue to ensure that DOE's test procedure for battery 
chargers is harmonized with the default guidelines for power and energy 
measurements generally recognized by many regulatory bodies, DOE 
proposed in the August 2015 NOPR to incorporate by reference the 
resolution parameters and uncertainty methodologies found in section 4 
of the second edition of the IEC 62301 standard. 80 FR 46855, 46861.
    DOE received comments from the CA IOUs, ITI, NEMA, NMMA, Schneider 
Electric, and WAHL Clipper supporting the proposal. (CA IOUs, No. 21, 
p. 3, ITI, No. 17, p. 4, NEMA, No. 13, p. 3, NMMA, No. 9, p. 3, 
Schneider Electric, No. 12, p. 4, WAHL Clipper, No. 18, p. 1). DOE also 
received comments from JOME and Delta-Q opposing the proposal. JOME 
expressed concern that the sampling rate of at least one sample per 
second prescribed in the second edition of the IEC 62301 standard will 
produce large amounts of data during the 24-hour energy consumption 
test and the management of these data can be cumbersome for 
manufacturers. (JOME, No. 2, p. 2) JOME and Delta-Q both recommended a 
sampling rate of at least one sample per minute. (JOME, No. 2, p. 2, 
Delta-Q, No. 11, p. 1) Additionally, JOME opposed the mandated 
calculation of uncertainty of measurement in annex D of the second 
edition of the IEC 62301 standard. (JOME, No. 2, p. 3)
    DOE believes that harmonization with the second edition of the IEC 
62301 standard is necessary for ensuring accuracy and repeatability of 
test results for battery chargers. DOE does not believe that the 
increase in data resulting from the higher sampling rate is cumbersome 
or unduly burdensome on manufacturers since test data acquisition and 
storage is performed automatically using electronic test equipment. 
Furthermore, DOE believes that the mandated calculation of uncertainty 
of measurement, as prescribed in annex D of the second edition of the 
IEC 62301 standard, is necessary for appropriately quantifying the 
accuracy of measured values. Thus, DOE is incorporating by reference 
the resolution parameters and uncertainty methodologies found in 
section 4 of the second edition of the IEC 62301 standard in this final 
rule.

B. Battery Selection and Testing of Multi-Voltage, Multi-Capacity 
Battery Chargers

    In order to eliminate ambiguity in the battery selection criteria 
and reduce testing burden on manufacturers, DOE proposed in the August 
2015 NOPR to reduce the number of batteries selected for testing 
certain multi-voltage, multi-capacity battery chargers to one. 80 FR at 
46860. These criteria are applicable to multi-voltage, multi-capacity 
battery chargers packaged or sold without a battery or packaged and 
sold with more than one battery. Specifically, DOE proposed to modify 
Table 4.1 to eliminate the multiple tests currently required for multi-
voltage and multi-capacity battery chargers and instead require that 
only one battery with the highest voltage and/or highest capacity be 
selected. DOE's proposal would result in only one set of test results, 
and after application of the sampling plan, a single represented value 
for each basic model of battery charger. Any potential energy 
conservation standard would only apply to the specific combination that 
is required to be tested and represented as part of the test procedure.
    DOE received numerous comments from a variety of stakeholders 
regarding the proposed change in the battery selection criteria for 
multi-voltage, multi-capacity battery chargers. First, DOE received 
comments from NEMA, NRDC, et al., and Schneider Electric opposing the 
proposal to limit the number of batteries selected for testing multi-
voltage, multi-capacity battery chargers to one. NEMA argued that 
limiting the number of batteries selected for testing to a single 
battery prescribes an unnecessary restriction on manufacturers of 
battery chargers. NEMA further argued that multiple chemistries and 
capacity values make battery chargers a very diverse category, whose 
test results cannot be duplicated under too-specific test procedures. 
(NEMA, No. 13, p. 2) Schneider Electric also argued that limiting the 
number of batteries selected for testing to a single battery is an 
unnecessary and burdensome restriction on battery charger 
manufacturers. Schneider Electric stated that testing a battery charger 
with the highest voltage or highest capacity battery does not

[[Page 31831]]

capture the worst-case energy consumption of the battery charger. 
Schneider Electric recommended an approach requiring manufacturers to 
select, identify, and declare which battery was used for testing 
(typically, the worst-case battery subsystem in terms of energy 
consumption). These testing specifics would be reported and available 
to DOE and third-party test facilities, to enable them to reproduce the 
test results. (Schneider Electric, No. 12, p. 2)
    DOE believes that the proposed battery selection criteria for 
testing multi-voltage, multi-capacity battery chargers, packaged or 
sold without a battery or packaged and sold with more than one battery, 
is most representative of the overall energy use of the battery charger 
while reducing testing burden on manufacturers of battery chargers. Due 
to the increased costs and complexity for a battery charger to support 
higher voltages, it is unlikely that a manufacturer would add support 
for higher voltages unless there was a strong demand to charge such 
batteries. Adding support for lower voltage batteries, however, incurs 
little to no additional cost or design complexity. Thus, the highest 
voltage and/or highest capacity battery is likely the most 
representative combination for a battery charger. As Schneider Electric 
notes, the highest voltage or capacity may not necessarily be the 
highest energy use. However, the highest voltage or capacity would be 
the most common use of such a battery charger. Additionally, it would 
be burdensome to determine which battery did result in the highest 
energy use as that would require testing all the combinations of 
batteries the battery charger supported and, at this point in time, DOE 
does not have a reason to believe this is necessary. Allowing 
manufacturers to declare and select the battery used would reduce the 
testing burden; however, that approach could be inconsistently applied 
amongst different manufacturers based on how such batteries were 
selected and may result in battery selections that are not commonly 
used by consumers. DOE also notes that restricting test results to a 
single battery instead of multiple batteries would reduce burden on a 
manufacturer if the potential energy conservation standards only 
require compliance at the tested battery configuration. Finally, 
contrary to the assertion of NEMA and Schneider Electric, manufacturers 
would still be able to distribute the basic model of battery charger 
with other batteries; DOE is only limiting the battery with which the 
manufacturer is required to test the battery charger.
    NRDC, et al. also opposed DOE's proposal and recommended that DOE 
retain the current battery selection criteria for multi-voltage, multi-
capacity battery chargers so that these chargers are tested against the 
entire range of batteries compatible with that basic model of charger. 
Further, NRDC, et al. recommended that the test procedure should ensure 
battery chargers are tested with the batteries they are shipped with 
instead of the highest capacity batteries that the chargers are capable 
of charging. (NRDC, et al., No. 20, p. 3) While DOE is finalizing its 
proposal of testing multi-voltage, multi-capacity battery chargers 
shipped either with multiple batteries or without a battery, with one 
and only one battery to, in part, remove ambiguity in the battery 
selection criteria, the primary reason is to balance testing burden on 
manufacturers against potential losses in energy savings that may arise 
due to testing in specific configurations or modes. DOE believes that 
testing at the highest voltage would most likely capture the highest 
energy use of the battery charger as well as the most common use of the 
battery charger by consumers. DOE will monitor the market as compliance 
is required and revisit this approach if DOE believes this approach is 
resulting in unintended consequences. DOE further emphasizes that the 
selection criteria provided in Table 4.1 of Appendix Y apply only to 
battery chargers packaged with multiple batteries, or packaged without 
a battery. The selection criteria do not apply to battery chargers with 
integrated batteries or to battery charger basic models that are 
packaged with only one battery (in each of those cases, the battery 
packaged with the charger would be used for testing). For a battery 
charger packaged with a battery, the battery charger basic model 
includes the entire battery charger system as packaged together and 
distributed into commerce. Therefore, if a battery charger is packaged 
and sold with a single battery of a particular voltage and capacity, 
and that same charger model is packaged and sold with another single 
battery of different voltage and capacity, then each combination of 
charger circuitry and battery would be considered its own battery 
charger basic model. A battery charger basic model is subject to 
testing, certification, and compliance with an energy conservation 
standard. The selection criteria are not relevant in these cases 
because the test procedure would require testing the battery charger 
circuitry and the (single) battery packaged together as a single 
battery charger basic model. The battery selection criteria proposed in 
the August 2015 NOPR are only used when more than one battery is 
packaged with a battery charger or when no batteries are packaged with 
the charger. For the reasons stated above, DOE is finalizing its 
proposal to reduce the number of batteries selected for testing certain 
multi-voltage, multi-capacity battery chargers packaged with multiple 
batteries, or packaged without a battery, to one in this final rule.
    DOE also received stakeholder comments supporting the proposed 
battery selection criteria but arguing that the highest voltage and 
highest capacity might not always be found in the same physical 
battery. (The Joint Commenters, No. 16, p. 5; DELL Inc., Pub. Mtg. Tr., 
No. 4, p. 31-33). Under DOE's proposal, a multi-voltage and multi-
capacity battery charger would be tested using the battery or 
configuration of batteries with the highest individual voltage and 
highest total rated energy capacity. Upon further consideration, DOE 
acknowledges that this proposal creates ambiguity in cases where a 
battery with a lower voltage has a higher rated energy capacity than a 
battery with a higher voltage, and vice-versa. To eliminate this 
ambiguity in the proposed battery selection criteria, ITI and PTI/OPEI 
recommended selecting a battery with the highest capacity, and if 
multiple batteries exist with the same capacity then the battery with 
the highest voltage would be selected. (ITI, No. 17, p. 2, PTI/OPEI, No 
14, p. 4) In contrast, NRDC, et al. recommended selecting a battery 
with the highest voltage, and if multiple batteries of the same voltage 
exist then select the battery with the highest capacity. (NRDC, et al., 
No. 20, p. 2) NRDC, et al. also recommended selecting the battery with 
the lowest charge capacity, and if multiple batteries meet this 
criterion, then the compatible battery with the lowest voltage and 
lowest charge capacity would be selected. (NRDC, et al., No. 20, p. 3) 
NEMA recommended that manufacturers should be permitted discretion on 
battery selection based on internal considerations such as the most 
common type of batteries used in their supply chain, etc. (NEMA, No. 
13, p. 2) DOE also received comments that recommended selecting the 
most common battery for the application (JOME, No. 2, p. 2), the 
battery mentioned in the user manual (Japan 4EE, No. 6, p. 3), and the 
readily available batteries specific to lead acid battery chargers 
(NMMA, No. 9, p. 2).
    The proposals from NEMA, Japan 4EE, and NMMA could be

[[Page 31832]]

representative of the battery charger energy; however, there is no way 
to ensure repeatability when selecting the battery since different 
manufacturers may select recommended batteries for reasons unrelated to 
representativeness, the most commonly used battery may change over 
time, and readily available batteries may also change over time 
resulting in constant retesting and recertifications.
    In the August 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed that the highest voltage and/
or highest capacity battery be selected for multi-voltage, multi-
capacity battery chargers. 80 FR at 46860. DOE intended to prioritize 
battery voltage over battery capacity. Higher voltages require the most 
design consideration for battery chargers, and a manufacturer would not 
design for higher voltages unless it was common and significant to the 
use of the battery charger. Increased battery capacity generally does 
not require as significant a redesign of the battery charger. 
Therefore, in response to stakeholder comments and to clarify its 
original intention, DOE is modifying the battery selection criteria 
language for multi-voltage, multi-capacity battery chargers in Table 
4.1 to more clearly specify that battery voltage is prioritized over 
battery capacity. This update eliminates any ambiguity in the battery 
selection criteria while ensuring that the energy consumption of multi-
voltage, multi-capacity battery chargers is tested at the most 
representative combination as DOE intended.
    Further, DOE received comments from NRDC, et al. supporting DOE's 
additional proposed criterion of testing a multi-voltage, multi-
capacity, multi-chemistry battery charger with a battery that results 
in the highest maintenance mode power if applying the battery selection 
criteria in Table 4.1 results in more than one battery selected (such 
that two or more batteries, each with a unique chemistry, meet the 
selection criteria). (NRDC, et al., No. 20, p. 2) However, NMMA 
recommended that DOE clarify that the selection criterion of highest 
maintenance mode power only applies to chargers of distinct 
chemistries, and does not apply to lead acid battery chargers sold 
without an accompanying battery. NMMA stated that the maintenance mode 
power of lead acid batteries depends on a number of factors, not all 
manufacturers of lead acid batteries publish this information, and, 
therefore, selection of worst-case lead acid batteries may be difficult 
to achieve. (NMMA, No. 9, p. 2)
    In response to the concern raised by NMMA, DOE clarifies that the 
additional battery selection criterion of selecting the battery that 
results in the highest mode maintenance power was intended to only 
apply when application of the battery selection criteria in Table 4.1 
to multi-voltage, multi-capacity, multi-chemistry chargers results in 
more than one battery (such that two or more batteries, each with a 
unique chemistry, meet the selection criteria). This criterion was not 
intended to and will not apply to multi-voltage, multi-capacity battery 
chargers sold without an accompanied battery that are only capable of 
charging batteries of a single chemistry such as lead acid. 
Additionally, since DOE is reducing the testing burden to a single 
voltage point, testing with the highest maintenance mode power ensures 
that the energy savings from a potential energy conservation standard 
is maximized. Therefore, DOE is finalizing the additional battery 
selection criterion of selecting the battery and battery charger 
combination resulting in the highest maintenance mode power if applying 
the battery selection criteria in Table 4.1 results in more than one 
battery (such that two or more batteries, each with a unique chemistry, 
meet the selection criteria) for a multi-voltage, multi-capacity, 
multi-chemistry battery charger.
    Lastly, NEMA recommended that DOE require manufacturers of multi-
voltage, multi-capacity, multi-chemistry battery chargers to identify 
and declare testing specifics that would be reported and available to 
DOE and third-party test facilities, to enable them to reproduce the 
test results. (NEMA, No. 13, p. 2) NEMA's recommendation was based on 
its recommendation that DOE relax the requirements of its proposed test 
procedure to allow options for battery selection under these 
circumstances. NEMA contended that ``too-specific test procedures 
challenge successful duplication of test efforts.'' (NEMA, No. 13, p. 
2) DOE believes, to the contrary, that deviation from the standard 
protocols would negatively affect accuracy and repeatability of test 
results. Therefore, this test procedure final rule for battery chargers 
details and standardizes all specifics surrounding compliance testing. 
As such, there will be no need for the requirement recommended by NEMA.

C. Back-Up Battery Chargers

    In the August 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed to define back-up battery 
chargers and exclude them from the scope of the battery chargers test 
procedure rulemaking. 80 FR at 46860. In that document, DOE explained 
that because these types of devices are becoming increasingly 
integrated with a variety of products that do not perform back-up 
battery charging as a primary function, measuring the energy use 
associated with the battery charging function of these devices is often 
extremely difficult--if not impossible--because of the inability to 
isolate the energy usage from the battery charging function during 
testing. DOE proposed to define back-up battery chargers in 10 CFR 
430.2 as a battery charger that: (1) Is embedded in a separate end-use 
product that is designed to operate continuously using mains power (AC 
or DC), and (2) has as its sole purpose to recharge a battery used to 
maintain continuity of load power in case of input power failure.
    DOE received comments from ARRIS and Japan 4EE supporting DOE's 
decision to define and exclude back-up battery chargers from the scope 
of the battery chargers test procedure. (ARRIS, No. 19, p. 1, Japan 
4EE, No. 6, p. 3) However, DOE also received comments from the CA IOUs, 
CEC, NRDC, et al. and Schneider Electric opposing this aspect of DOE's 
proposal. Schneider Electric expressed concern that, in the absence of 
a Federal test procedure covering back-up battery chargers, 
manufacturers of back-up battery chargers are faced with the 
possibility of individual states introducing numerous and potentially 
inconsistent test procedures and energy conservation standards, which 
will be unduly burdensome on manufacturers. (Schneider Electric, No. 
12, p. 1) The CEC, CA IOUs, and NRDC, et al. contended that excluding 
back-up battery chargers from the test procedure will preempt the CEC's 
existing energy efficiency standards for back-up battery chargers, 
which can potentially lead to backsliding of energy savings from the 
CEC standards. Furthermore, the CEC, CA IOUs and NRDC, et al. suggested 
that, if DOE decides to exclude back-up battery chargers from the scope 
of the battery chargers test procedure, DOE should exclude back-up 
battery chargers from the definition of battery chargers altogether, 
which will allow the current CEC standards to remain applicable until 
DOE decides to introduce a specific test procedure for back-up battery 
chargers. (CEC, No. 8, p. 3, CA IOUs, No. 21, p. 3, NRDC, et al., No. 
20, p. 2)
    In response to these concerns, DOE clarifies here that, while the 
rule adopted here will preempt state test procedures for battery 
chargers, state energy conservation standards for battery chargers, 
including back-up battery chargers and UPSs, prescribed or enacted 
before publication of this final rule, will not be preempted until the 
compliance date of Federal energy

[[Page 31833]]

conservation standards for battery chargers. (42 U.S.C. 6295(ii)(1))
    DOE has considered all stakeholder comments related to this topic 
and is finalizing the exclusion of back-up battery chargers, as defined 
in 10 CFR 430.2, from the battery charger test procedure. This is not 
because it is not possible to apply the test procedure to back-up 
battery chargers, but rather because applying the battery charger test 
procedure to back-up battery chargers does not result in a 
representative measure of the energy consumption of these battery 
chargers. While the battery charger test procedure allows a 
manufacturer to minimize standby power of additional functionalities or 
incorporate an on-off switch to disable non-battery charger functions, 
doing so is impractical for applications that are designed to operate 
continuously. There would be no practical reason, therefore, for a 
manufacturer to implement potentially costly technology or switches 
that limit the non-battery charging functions of a design in which 
those non-battery charging functions are designed to be operated 
continuously, and thus, are not representative of typical use.
    Similarly, DOE is excluding uninterruptible power supplies 
(``UPSs'') from this battery charger test procedure. DOE has proposed, 
as part of a separate rulemaking, a test procedure for UPSs that 
contain an AC output. See http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/04/f31/Uninterruptible%20Power%20Supply%20Test%20Procedure%20NOPR_0.pdf. 
That rulemaking, if finalized as proposed, would establish a different 
battery charger test procedure for UPSs with an AC output, and would 
ensure that a uniform and consistent test procedure exists for these 
type of battery chargers that is representative of their energy 
consumption and energy efficiency.
    DOE also received comments from ITI requesting that DOE define and 
exclude rechargeable battery subsystems from the test procedure for 
battery chargers. ITI defines rechargeable battery subsystems as 
``rechargeable batteries and battery charger systems contained 
completely within a larger product that are not capable of providing 
normal operation of the parent product when AC mains power is 
removed.'' ITI argued these products are functionally different from 
other battery chargers covered under this regulation. ITI contends that 
batteries and battery charging subsystems cannot be effectively 
isolated from the parent device for testing and there is no appropriate 
test procedure to measure the energy consumption of these subsystems. 
(ITI, No. 17, pp. 3-4)
    After researching applications and architectures of rechargeable 
battery subsystems, as defined by ITI, DOE believes that rechargeable 
battery subsystems would already meet the proposed definition of back-
up battery chargers. In particular, a battery charger that maintains a 
battery used to provide partial operation of a parent product in the 
event of an input power failure would not preclude it from meeting the 
definition proposed by DOE. Therefore, under DOE's proposal, 
rechargeable battery subsystems would be excluded from the scope of the 
battery charger test procedure. Based on the comment from ITI, DOE is 
finalizing a modified definition of back-up battery chargers in 10 CFR 
430.2 to make clear that a battery charger system embedded in a 
continuous use product does not need to maintain continuity of normal 
operation in the event of a power loss to qualify as a back-up battery 
charger. Hence, in this final rule, back-up battery charger means a 
battery charger (excluding UPSs) that: (1) Is embedded in a separate 
end-use product that is designed to continuously operate using mains 
power (including end-use products that use external power supplies), 
and (2) has as its sole purpose to recharge a battery used to maintain 
continuity of power in order to provide normal or partial operation of 
a product in case of loss of input power. This definition of back-up 
battery chargers clarifies that rechargeable battery subsystems meet 
the definition of back-up battery chargers.

D. Conditioning and Discharge Rate for Lead Acid Battery Chargers

    In the August 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed to apply the same battery 
conditioning provisions found in section 5.3(c) of appendix Y to 
subpart B of 10 CFR part 430, to lead acid batteries and use a 50% 
depth of discharge during conditioning cycles. 80 FR at 46861. Since 
the publication of the NOPR, DOE received comments from JOME, Delta-Q, 
NEMA, Schneider Electric and ITI supporting the proposal of allowing 
conditioning for lead acid batteries prior to testing. (JOME, No. 2, p. 
3, Delta-Q, No. 11, p. 2, NEMA, No. 13, p. 3, Schneider Electric, No. 
12, p. 4, ITI, No. 17, pp. 4-5) However, some of these commenters also 
recommended alternative methods for conditioning lead acid batteries. 
JOME requested that DOE should refrain from mandating two conditioning 
cycles for large lead acid batteries because of time considerations. 
(JOME, No. 2, p. 3) Similarly, Delta-Q recommended that DOE should not 
mandate two conditioning cycles for lead acid batteries. (Delta-Q, No. 
11, p. 1) Schneider Electric and ITI suggested conditioning lead acid 
batteries by means of a float charger for a duration of at least 72 
hours for batteries that have been in storage for 3 months or longer. 
(Schneider Electric, No. 12, p. 4, ITI, No. 17, p. 5) NEMA recommended 
that DOE provide flexibility in the process of conditioning batteries 
for certification testing. NEMA highlighted that it is not unusual for 
lead acid batteries to be in storage for some time and that two 
discharge cycles may not be enough to fully recover their capacity. 
Further, NEMA mentioned that a float charge of 72 hours duration is 
also sometimes used following 100% discharge cycles depending on 
battery condition, age or other needs. (NEMA, No. 13, p. 3)
    NRDC, et al. opposed the proposal to allow lead acid batteries to 
be conditioned prior to testing. In its view, unlike the current test 
procedure, permitting the conditioning of lead acid batteries would 
allow lower efficiency battery chargers to comply with the proposed 
energy efficiency standards. (NRDC, et al., No. 20, p. 5) The CEC also 
recommended that if DOE decides to allow conditioning of lead acid 
batteries prior to testing, DOE must also factor the impact of this 
conditioning into its proposed energy conservation standards for lead 
acid battery chargers. (CEC, No. 8, p. 7)
    DOE has become aware that the condition of lead acid batteries may 
vary upon purchase and this variation can impact the repeatability of 
test results of lead acid battery chargers. Given this fact, 
conditioning lead acid batteries prior to testing will produce more 
accurate and repeatable representations of battery discharge energy, 
which will result in more accurate and repeatable representations of 
energy consumption for lead acid battery chargers. Additionally, 
standardizing the battery conditioning protocol will help to ensure 
repeatability of all test results. DOE has not collected or received 
any data to suggest that cycling a lead acid battery twice--as is being 
adopted in this rule--would significantly increase that battery's 
energy capacity. Therefore, in the absence of such data, DOE also does 
not believe that allowing conditioning of lead acid batteries needs to 
be factored into potential energy conservation standards (as commented 
by CEC) because its impact on the measured energy consumption is 
minimal. With regards to the use of float chargers for batteries stored 
for at least 3 months, DOE notes that section 5.3(d)

[[Page 31834]]

of appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 already contains 
provisions to fully charge the battery if it has already been 
conditioned through at least two cycles, which could include a float 
charger to charge the battery. DOE does not believe it is necessary to 
specify in detail the type of charging used. After careful 
consideration of comments from all interested stakeholders, DOE is 
finalizing its proposal to condition lead acid batteries prior to 
testing by applying the provisions for conditioning found in section 
5.3(c) of appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430.
    DOE also proposed to amend its test procedure by providing 
manufacturers with the option of choosing from a 5-hour (``C/5'' or 
``0.2C''), 10-hour (``C/10'' or ``0.1C''), or 20-hour (``C/20'' or 
``.05C'') discharge rate when testing lead acid batteries. DOE's 
proposal limited this option to lead acid batteries with an energy 
capacity above 1,000 watt-hours (Wh) because a longer discharge cycle 
would do little to maximize discharge energy for batteries under 1,000 
Wh, but would have a more significant impact on maximizing discharge 
energy for batteries greater than 1,000 Wh. 80 FR at 46861.
    JOME, NMMA and Delta-Q provided comments supporting the allowance 
of slower discharge rates for large lead acid batteries. (JOME, No. 2, 
p. 3, NMMA, No. 9, p. 3, Delta-Q, No. 11, p. 3) However, NRDC, et al., 
CEC and the CA IOUs strongly opposed allowing slower discharge rates 
for large lead acid batteries. (NRDC, et al., No. 20, p. 4, CEC, No. 8, 
pp. 4-5, CA IOUs, No. 21, p. 4) NRDC, et al. stated that slower 
discharge rates are not representative of applications with fast 
discharge rates, such as golf carts. (NRDC, et al., No. 20, p. 4) 
Similarly, P. R. China claimed that certain practical applications of 
large lead acid batteries require higher discharge currents and 1-hour, 
2-hour and 3-hour discharge rates are more representative of these 
applications. Instead, it recommended using discharge rates that are 
representative of their practical application. (P. R. China, No. 5, p. 
3) Lastly, NRDC, et al., the CEC and the CA IOUs requested that DOE 
reassess its proposed energy conservation standards for battery 
chargers if DOE decides to allow slower discharge rates for large lead 
acid batteries. (NRDC, et al., No. 20. p. 5, CEC, No. 8, p. 7, CA IOUs, 
Pub. Mtg. Tr., No. 4, p. 64)
    After careful consideration of comments submitted by all interested 
stakeholders on this issue, DOE is electing not to finalize its 
proposal of allowing multiple discharge rates for large lead acid 
batteries. Therefore, all batteries will continue to be discharged at 
the 5-hour (i.e., C/5 or 0.2C) discharge rate as prescribed in the 
current test procedure for battery chargers. While a single discharge 
rate is not representative of all applications of batteries, the 5-hour 
discharge rate is currently used by all manufacturers of battery 
chargers as part of the Appliance Efficiency Regulations for Battery 
Charger Systems by the CEC. See Table D in section III.F of Energy 
Efficiency Battery Charger System Test Procedure Version 2.2.\3\ 
Moreover, usage of a 5-hour discharge rate for all batteries 
effectively avoids any variability that would be introduced by allowing 
manufacturers of certain battery chargers to use one of three specified 
discharge rates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ California Energy Commission. Energy Efficiency Battery 
Charger System Test Procedure, (November 2008). Available at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/appliances/2008rulemaking/2008-AAER-1B/2008-11-19_BATTERY_CHARGER_SYSTEM_TEST_PROCEDURE.PDF.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, a number of stakeholders highlighted a typographical error 
in the proposed requirements for conditioning lead acid batteries found 
in section 5.3(c) of appendix Y to subpart B to 10 CFR part 430 where 
it is stated that lead acid batteries should be discharged to 50% of 
the rated voltage instead of to 50% depth of discharge. 80 FR at 46869. 
Delta-Q requested DOE fix this error by stating that lead acid 
batteries should be discharged to 50% of rated capacity. (Delta-Q, No. 
11, p. 2) Schneider Electric, NEMA, and PTI/OPEI requested DOE fix this 
error by stating that lead acid batteries should be discharged to 
voltage levels provided in Table 5.2 of the existing battery charger 
test procedure. (Schneider Electric, No. 12, p. 4, NEMA, No. 13, p. 3, 
PTI/OPEI, No. 14, p. 4)
    DOE is resolving this clerical error in the final rule by stating 
that all lead acid batteries be conditioned by discharging to the 
voltage levels already stated in Table 5.2 of the current test 
procedure for battery chargers, which is consistent with DOE's original 
intention of discharging lead acid batteries to 50% depth of discharge 
during conditioning.

E. Sampling and Certification Requirements

    DOE proposed to update 10 CFR 429.39, section (a), ``Determination 
of represented value'', and reserved section (b), ``Certification 
Reports,'' to detail how to apply the sampling plan to calculate 
represented values for each measure of energy consumption, time, and 
power recorded as part of the battery charger test procedure, and 
subsequently report those ratings during certification. 80 FR at 46862. 
Specifically, DOE proposed that certification reports for battery 
chargers include represented values for the measured maintenance mode 
power (``Pm''), the measured standby power 
(``Psb''), the measured off mode power 
(``Poff''), the measured battery discharge energy 
(``EBatt''), and the measured 24-hour energy consumption 
(``E24''). These represented values would then be used, in 
conjunction with the proposed equations set forth in the battery 
chargers energy conservation standards NOPR,\4\ to calculate the unit 
energy consumption (``UEC'') for that battery charger basic model. UEC 
is designed to represent an annualized amount of non-useful energy 
consumed by a battery charger in all modes of operation over the course 
of a year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Energy Conservation Standards for Battery Chargers and 
External Power Supplies; Proposed Rule, 77 FR 18478, 18522-24 (Mar. 
27, 2012) (March 2012 NOPR).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE received comments from the Joint Commenters, WAHL Clipper, and 
PTI/OPEI arguing that individual representations of five measures of 
energy and power (E24, Ebatt, Pm, 
Psb and Poff) are unduly burdensome on battery 
charger manufacturers and recommended that DOE require only a single 
representation of the UEC metric in the certification report. (Joint 
Commenters, No. 16, p. 4, WAHL Clipper, No. 18, p. 1, PTI/OPEI, No. 5, 
p. 3) Furthermore, the Joint Commenters argued that it is easier for 
manufacturers to make conservative representations in the context of a 
single energy consumption metric, as opposed to conservatively rating 
five measures of energy and power. (Joint Commenters, No. 16, p. 3)
    After considering the comments submitted by the Joint Commenters, 
WAHL Clipper, and PTI, DOE agrees that it is easier for manufacturers 
to make conservative representations in the context of an energy 
consumption metric, the UEC. Therefore, DOE is adopting only the 
requirement that manufacturers develop a UEC rating for that battery 
charger basic model according to the statistical requirements in 10 CFR 
429.39(a), which allows for conservative ratings of UEC (in kWh/year) 
that are greater than the higher of the mean or the upper confidence 
limit divided by 1.05 for the UECs calculated for each unit in the 
compliance certification sample.
    In addition, in order to calculate the UEC for a battery charger 
basic model during compliance testing, DOE is adding the UEC equations 
and the associated battery charger usage profiles

[[Page 31835]]

proposed in the September 1, 2015 battery charger energy conservation 
standards Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNOPR) \5\ to 
section 5.13 of the battery charger test procedure codified at appendix 
Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430. In order to develop a UEC rating, a 
manufacturer will first need to calculate the UEC for each unit in the 
compliance certification sample of a battery charger basic model. For 
example, if a manufacturer sampled four units of a battery charger 
basic model, it would be required to calculate the UEC for each of 
those four units in the sample using the UEC equations in section 5.13 
of appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430, and then apply the 
statistical requirements in 10 CFR 429.39(a) in order to develop a 
rating of UEC for that battery charger basic model.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Energy Conservation Standards for Battery Chargers; 
Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 80 FR 52849, 52932-33 
(Sept. 1, 2015) (September 2015 SNOPR).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Manufacturers will still be required to submit represented values 
of E24, Ebatt, Pm, Psb, 
Poff, and the duration of the charge and maintenance mode 
test (tcd) of a battery charger basic model as part of the 
compliance certification report; however, these represented values will 
now simply be the arithmetic mean of the measured values for each of 
these metrics from the units tested in the compliance certification 
sample. Reporting mean values of E24, Ebatt, 
Pm, Psb, Poff, and tcd on 
the certification report will not increase testing burden on 
manufacturers, as manufacturers will already be using these values to 
calculate each unit-specific UEC in order to develop UEC ratings. In 
addition to there being no additional testing burden, the reporting 
burden itself is limited to simply calculating averages for the six 
metrics already measured. Reporting represented values of 
E24, Ebatt, Pm, Psb, 
Poff and tcd in certification reports for battery 
chargers provides DOE with more accurate data on the six measured 
values of power, energy and time for basic models of battery chargers. 
Accordingly, DOE is revising 10 CFR 429.39(a) to reflect these 
statistical requirements for representing UEC, E24, 
Ebatt, Pm, Psb, Poff, and 
tcd for battery charger basic models.
    Second, DOE has received stakeholder comments on the sampling 
requirements that are already part of the current test procedure for 
battery chargers. JOME provided comments opposing the sampling 
requirements on the basis that these requirements increase the number 
of test units and, consequently, increase the time and costs associated 
with testing. (JOME, No. 2, p. 4) Schneider Electric also provided 
comments opposing the sampling requirements. Schneider Electric argued 
that because there is no documented case of market surveillance failure 
under the CEC efficiency standards for battery chargers and that 
manufacturers are ultimately responsible for compliance, DOE should 
allow manufacturers to define their own sampling plans. (Schneider 
Electric, No. 12, p. 5) Similarly, Delta-Q expressed concern that 
although the sampling plan sets the minimum number of samples to be 
tested per basic model to two units, the statistical approach of upper 
and lower confidence limits would require more than two units to be 
tested to account for variability, which imposes a cost and time burden 
on manufacturers. Delta-Q also expressed concern that if the same 
flooded lead acid battery is used to test all samples of a basic model 
of a lead acid battery charger, the high cycle-to-cycle variation of 
the flooded lead acid battery can have a negative impact on test 
results. Delta-Q sought clarification on whether the same battery would 
be used to test all samples of a basic model of a battery charger. 
(Delta-Q, No. 11, p. 3)
    DOE currently mandates sampling requirements to improve the 
statistical validity of representations made by manufacturers and to 
ensure products being distributed in commerce actually meet the 
applicable standard. Under DOE's sampling methodology, manufacturers 
may determine the number of samples tested as long as the sampling 
requirements adopted in this final rule are satisfied. To the extent 
that manufacturers commented that the sample size is required to be 
greater than two units, DOE believes it is appropriate for a 
manufacturer to test a sample of sufficient size to make a 
statistically valid assessment of the compliance of the basic model. 
Therefore, DOE believes that the sampling requirements for 
certification of battery chargers stated in 10 CFR 429.39 are 
appropriate and are not unduly burdensome. Regarding Delta-Q's question 
(i.e., whether the same battery is used for testing all samples of a 
basic model), DOE notes that each manufacturer must determine whether 
to test all samples of the same battery charger basic model with a 
single battery or with a new battery each time.
    Third, DOE received comments from the Joint Commenters and WAHL 
Clipper opposing the reporting of contract manufacturer names for their 
external power supplies (``EPSs'') and test batteries in certification 
reports. The Joint Commenters and WAHL Clipper recommended that DOE 
classify and treat manufacturers of EPSs and test batteries as 
confidential. (Joint Commenters, No. 16, p. 4, WAHL Clipper, No. 18, p. 
1) Similarly, ITI argued for the exclusion of the manufacturer and 
model number of the test battery from certification reports (ITI, No. 
17, pp. 5-6), and Schneider Electric inquired as to whether DOE can 
hold compliance certification reports of upcoming models confidential 
until the official launch of these models. (Schneider Electric, Pub. 
Mtg. Tr., No. 4, pp. 93-94).
    In response to the comments submitted by the Joint Commenters, WAHL 
Clipper and ITI, DOE acknowledges that publically disclosing the 
manufacturers and models of test batteries and external power supplies 
as part of the battery charger compliance certification reports might 
have a negative impact on competition. Therefore, DOE is revising the 
battery charger compliance certification requirements in 10 CFR 
429.39(b) so that the manufacturers and models of test batteries and 
external power supplies are not included in the public disclosures in 
DOE's compliance certification database. Other than the manufacturer 
and model of test battery(s) and external power supply, all other 
product-specific information on a battery charger compliance 
certification report will be public. Further, in response to the 
comment submitted by Schneider Electric, DOE clarifies that the 
confidentiality provisions in 10 CFR 429.7 apply to this rulemaking. 
Manufacturers who want DOE to hold compliance certification reports of 
upcoming basic models confidential until the official launch of these 
basic models should refer to 10 CFR 429.7 for guidance regarding 
confidentiality. DOE also emphasizes that the manufacturers and models 
of test batteries and external power supplies will not be provided on 
the public CCMS database.
    Fourth, during the public meeting held to discuss the August 2015 
NOPR, DOE received numerous comments inquiring about circumstances that 
will require manufacturers of battery chargers to recertify their basic 
models. WAHL Clipper inquired on whether recertification is necessary 
if a battery manufacturer is changed but battery characteristics remain 
the same. (WAHL Clipper, Pub. Mtg. Tr., No. 4, p. 83) DELL Inc. asked 
whether battery charger manufacturers would need to recertify their 
basic models if there is a change in battery model or part number due 
to minor improvements made by the battery manufacturer. (DELL Inc., 
Pub. Mtg. Tr., No. 4, pp. 85-86) STIHL Inc.

[[Page 31836]]

questioned whether basic models of battery chargers require 
recertification if a higher capacity battery that works with the 
battery charger is introduced into the market. (STIHL Inc., Pub. Mtg. 
Tr., No. 4, p. 120) DELL Inc. further inquired whether an entire family 
of products would need to be recertified if one product in the family 
uses a new, improved battery. (DELL Inc., Pub. Mtg. Tr., No. 4, p. 120-
123)
    In response to the comments made by WAHL Clipper, DELL Inc. and 
STIHL Inc. regarding recertification, DOE notes that its existing 
regulations address when modifications require recertification. A 
modification to a model that increases the model's energy or water 
consumption or decreases its efficiency resulting in re-rating must be 
certified as a new basic model. 10 CFR 429.12(e)(1). If the design of 
the battery charger basic model, including the battery, has changed in 
such a way that the information certified to DOE would no longer be 
valid, then the manufacturer would be required to test and recertify 
its battery charger basic model. Recertification would not be necessary 
if changes to the design of the battery charger result in the UEC 
remaining below the rated value. Changes resulting in a new individual 
model in the basic model do not require additional testing but must be 
reported as part of the next annual certification report. 10 CFR 
429.12(d).
    Fifth, DOE also received some general comments regarding the 
proposed sampling and certification requirements for battery chargers. 
PTI inquired if third-party laboratories are allowed to file for 
certification on behalf of manufacturers. (PTI, Pub. Mtg. Tr., No. 4, 
pp. 126-27) Schneider Electric asked for clarification on how to 
certify in situations where the integrated battery does not have a 
nameplate. (Schneider Electric, Pub. Mtg. Tr., No. 4, pp. 88-89) NEMA 
recommended that DOE clearly state whether manufacturers can use an 
alternate efficiency determination method (``AEDM'') to certify battery 
chargers. (NEMA, No. 13, p. 4)
    DOE regulations require ``manufacturers'' (defined to include 
importers and U.S. manufacturers) of covered products that are subject 
to energy conservation standards to submit certification reports to 
DOE. The regulations also provide, however, that a manufacturer may 
elect to use a third party to submit the certification report to DOE. 
Nonetheless, the manufacturer is ultimately responsible for submission 
of the certification report to DOE. 10 CFR 429.12
    In response to Schneider Electric's comment regarding integrated 
batteries without a nameplate, DOE clarifies that manufacturers would 
still be required to disclose the battery specifications as part of the 
certification report even if the battery does not have a nameplate with 
rated values. It is DOE's understanding that manufacturers of battery 
chargers with integrated batteries are aware of the exact battery 
specifications as these specifications are crucial to their product 
design and intended use. DOE has added language in appendix Y to 
subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 to clarify that if these rated values are 
not clearly present on a nameplate or the manufacturer is not aware of 
the specifications, then the manufacturer must submit measured values. 
In particular, the manufacturer must measure and report, in place of 
the rated values, the nominal fully charged battery voltage of the test 
battery in volts (V), the battery charge capacity of the test battery 
in ampere-hours (Ah) as measured per this test procedure and the 
battery energy capacity of the test battery in watt-hours (Wh) as 
measured per this test procedure.
    In response to NEMA's comment regarding AEDMs, DOE authorizes the 
use of AEDMs for certain covered products that are difficult or 
expensive to test in an effort to reduce the testing burden faced by 
manufacturers of expensive or highly customized basic models. DOE's 
analysis has shown that battery chargers are neither difficult nor 
expensive to test. Therefore, DOE is not including any provisions 
allowing manufacturers to use an AEDM for compliance certification in 
this test procedure final rule.

F. Enforcement Testing Sampling Plan

    DOE proposed to add appendix D to subpart C of 10 CFR part 429 to 
describe the methodology that DOE would use when conducting enforcement 
testing for battery chargers. 80 FR at 46868. DOE received comments 
from the Joint Commenters and PTI/OPEI inquiring if DOE had 
unintentionally left out the standard error of the measured energy 
performance, as described in appendix A to subpart C of 10 CFR part 
429. The Joint Commenters and PTI/OPEI both argued for the inclusion of 
the standard error of the measured energy performance in the battery 
charger test procedure final rule. (Joint Commenters, No. 16, pp. 4-5, 
PTI/OPEI, No. 14, p. 3) iRobot recommended that DOE adopt the proposed 
enforcement rules and further recommended that DOE only use enforcement 
data to establish if a basic model meets the applicable standard. 
iRobot requested that, if DOE is planning on using enforcement data to 
check represented values in the compliance certification, DOE explain 
the exact method of comparison to be used in an additional NOPR and 
grant stakeholders an opportunity to comment on the exact method of 
comparison. (iRobot, No. 7, p. 3) Similarly, ITI argued that DOE should 
not use enforcement data to check values that do not have limits 
assigned in the applicable energy conservation standards. (ITI, No. 17, 
p. 5) Additionally, NRDC, et al. expressed concern that if DOE were to 
use enforcement data to check representations of E24, 
EBatt, Pm, Psb and Poff, 
then manufacturers will be encouraged to report non-typical values of 
these measures, which will not be representative of reality. (NRDC, et 
al., Pub. Mtg. Tr., No. 4, pp. 110-11)
    As discussed in section III.E above, battery charger manufacturers 
will be required to certify the UEC metric, which will be calculated 
according to the primary or secondary equation in section 5.13 of 
appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430, for each battery charger 
basic model, and according to the statistical requirements at 10 CFR 
429.39(a). Additionally, manufacturers of battery chargers will be 
required to certify values for E24, EBatt, 
Pm, Psb, Poff and tcd, each 
of which is simply the arithmetic mean of the measured values from the 
units tested. In light of the discussion in section III.E, DOE's 
proposal in the August 2015 NOPR to add appendix D to 10 CFR part 429 
subpart C is no longer necessary. DOE will instead continue to follow 
the sampling plan for enforcement testing already stated in appendix A 
to subpart C of 10 CFR part 429 for battery chargers. In response to 
comments from the Joint Commenters and PTI, appendix A to subpart C of 
10 CFR part 429 includes the standard error for the measured energy 
performance.
    Additionally, PTI inquired whether a value of UEC calculated during 
enforcement testing, which is below the applicable energy conservation 
standard but above the represented value in a compliance certification, 
is a case of noncompliance. (PTI, Pub. Mtg. Tr., No. 4, pp. 81-82) 
iRobot and Schneider Electric recommended that DOE provide 
manufacturers access to units that fail enforcement testing. (iRobot, 
No. 7, p. 3, Schneider Electric, Pub. Mtg. Tr., No. 4, p. 109)
    If DOE conducts enforcement testing, appendix A to subpart C of 10 
CFR part 429 sets forth the method for determining whether a basic 
model complies with the applicable energy conservation standard. If, 
during testing, DOE finds that the measured UEC is above the certified 
value, DOE typically

[[Page 31837]]

investigates the reason for the discrepancy. Depending on the 
circumstances, DOE may seek civil penalties, as knowing 
misrepresentation by a manufacturer by certifying a value for a covered 
product in a manner that is not supported by test data is a prohibited 
act. 10 CFR 429.102. Units provided by the manufacturer for enforcement 
testing are returned to the manufacturer after the enforcement case is 
closed.
    Further, DOE received comments from P. R. China requesting that DOE 
clarify the sample size to be used during enforcement testing and 
whether different sample sizes will be used for different 
manufacturers. (P. R. China, No. 5, p. 3) For enforcement testing of 
battery chargers, the initial sample size is four units. DOE may test 
up to 21 units, in accordance with the provisions of appendix A to 
subpart C of 10 CFR part 429.

G. Corrections to Typographical Errors

    In this test procedure final rule, DOE is updating Table 3.1 of 
appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 to correct cross-reference 
errors and eliminate a redundant column. The ``Battery Discharge 
Energy'' item on the second line in this table currently references 
section 4.6, when it should instead reference section 5.8, ``Battery 
Discharge Energy Test''. The ``Initial time and power (W) of the input 
current to the connected battery'' item on the third line in this table 
currently references section 4.6, when it should instead reference 
section 5.6, ``Testing Charge Mode and Battery Maintenance Mode.'' The 
``Active and Maintenance Mode Energy Consumption'' item on the fourth 
line in this table currently references section 5.8, when it should 
instead reference section 5.6, ``Testing Charge Mode and Battery 
Maintenance Mode.'' Therefore, DOE is updating the second, third and 
fourth items in the ``Reference'' column of Table 3.1 to state 
``Section 5.8'', ``Section 5.6'' and ``Section 5.6,'' respectively. 
Additionally, DOE is removing the current ``Value'' column from Table 
3.1 because the information from this column is being inserted in the 
column labeled ``Name of measured or calculated value'' to reduce 
complexity. DOE is also replacing ``0.2 [deg]C'' in section 5.8(c)(2) 
of appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 with ``0.2 C'' to correct 
a typographical error. The section covers discharge current during a 
battery discharge energy test and C-rate (``C'') is the correct 
measurement unit for discharge current.
    Additionally, DOE is revising the definition of C-rate in section 
2.10 of appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 by adding ``(C)'' as 
a unit for C-rate. DOE believes this will further reduce the 
possibility of any ambiguity associated with interpreting the test 
procedure. The revised definition reads ``C-rate (C) is the rate of 
charge or discharge, calculated by dividing the charge or discharge 
current by the rate charge capacity of the battery.''
    Lastly, DOE is renaming ``rated battery voltage'', ``rated charge 
capacity'' and ``rated energy capacity'', which are defined at sections 
2.19, 2.20 and 2.21 of appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430, as 
``nameplate battery voltage'', ``nameplate battery charge capacity'', 
and ``nameplate battery energy capacity,'' respectively, throughout the 
battery charger test procedure codified at appendix Y to subpart B of 
10 CFR part 430. The revised names will reduce the possibility of 
confusion between nameplate values and rated values submitted by 
manufacturers as part of compliance certification reports.

H. Limiting Other Non-Battery-Charger Functions

    DOE received comments from iRobot recommending specific language 
changes in the current test procedure for battery chargers. First, 
iRobot recommended that DOE remove the word ``optional'' from section 
4.4(b) of appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 to eliminate 
ambiguity. Second, iRobot recommended replacing ``manual'' with ``user-
accessible'' in section 4.4(d) of appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR 
part 430. (iRobot, No. 7, pp. 1-2) DOE notes that the word ``optional'' 
in section 4.4(b) of the current test procedure highlights that any 
additional functionality not associated with battery charging should be 
turned off prior to testing. As a result, only the battery charging 
portion of the battery charger is measured during testing. Similarly, 
while conducting the test procedure for battery chargers, a technician 
may have the option of turning off a manual switch that is not user-
accessible to limit any optional functions that are not associated with 
the battery charging process. Therefore, replacing the word ``manual'' 
with ``user-accessible,'' as recommended by iRobot, would further 
reduce the avenues available to manufacturers to limit non-battery 
charger related functions, which would likely result in DOE receiving a 
number of test procedure waiver inquiries. After careful consideration, 
DOE is not changing the language recommended by iRobot in section 4.4 
of appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430.

I. Discharging Lithium Ion Batteries

    DOE received comments from NEMA describing the difficulties with 
discharging lithium ion batteries to the end of the discharge voltages 
specified in Table 5.2. NEMA explained that some batteries have 
internal protections that prevent batteries from being discharged to 
such low levels. NEMA recommended that DOE allow manufacturers to end 
discharge tests at voltages specified by the manufacturer, which can be 
higher than those listed in Table 5.2. (NEMA, No. 13, p. 4) DOE 
understands the need for protective circuitry in certain volatile 
battery chemistries and has acknowledged the presence of protective 
circuitry in section 4.5(e) of the current battery chargers test 
procedure, published at appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430. In 
response to the comment from NEMA, DOE is updating Table 5.2 of 
appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 to further state that if the 
presence of protective circuitry in a lithium ion battery prevents the 
battery from being discharged to the end of the discharge voltage 
specified, then the manufacturer must discharge the battery to the 
lowest possible discharge voltage permitted by the protective circuity 
and report the end of the discharge voltage on the certification 
report.

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review

A. Review Under Executive Order 12866

    The Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') has determined that 
test procedure rulemakings do not constitute ``significant regulatory 
actions'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory 
Planning and Review, 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). Accordingly, this 
action was not subject to review under the Executive Order by the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (``OIRA'') in OMB.

B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended by 
the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Act of 1996) requires 
preparation of a final regulatory flexibility analysis for any rule 
that by law must be proposed for public comment, unless the agency 
certifies that the rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. As required 
by Executive Order 13272, ``Proper Consideration of Small Entities in 
Agency Rulemaking,'' 67 FR 53461 (August 16, 2002), DOE published 
procedures and policies on February 19, 2003 to ensure that the

[[Page 31838]]

potential impacts of its rules on small entities are properly 
considered during the DOE rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE has made 
its procedures and policies available on the Office of the General 
Counsel's Web site: http://energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel.
    This final rule prescribes amendments to the battery charger test 
procedure. These amendments update the battery selection criteria for 
multi-voltage, multi-capacity battery chargers, harmonize the 
instrumentation resolution and uncertainty requirements with the second 
edition of the IEC 62301 standard for measuring standby power, define 
and exclude back-up battery chargers from the testing requirements of 
this rulemaking, outline provisions for conditioning lead acid 
batteries, specify sampling and certification requirements for 
compliance with future energy conservation standards, detail an 
enforcement testing sampling plan for battery chargers, and correct 
typographical errors in the current test procedure.
    DOE reviewed this final rule under the provisions of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act and DOE's own procedures and policies published on 
February 19, 2003. DOE has concluded that this final rule will not have 
a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The 
factual basis for this certification is as follows.
    The Small Business Administration (``SBA'') considers a business 
entity to be a small business, if, together with its affiliates, it 
employs less than a threshold number of workers specified in 13 CFR 
part 121. These size standards and codes are established by the North 
American Industry Classification System (``NAICS''). The threshold 
number for NAICS classification code 335999, which applies to ``All 
Other Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing,'' 
and includes battery chargers, is 500 employees.
    As discussed in the March 2012 NOPR for battery charger energy 
conservation standards (77 FR 18478), DOE identified one battery 
charger original device manufacturer that was a small business with 
domestic manufacturing. Based on manufacturer interviews and DOE's 
research, DOE believes that almost all battery charger manufacturing 
takes place abroad.
    DOE estimates that this one small business may have to purchase 
testing equipment and have employees perform tests on covered battery 
chargers in order to comply with test procedures required from the 
adopted test procedure. DOE estimates a small business would need to 
purchase a computer with data acquisition software, battery analyzer, 
battery analyzer amplifier, power meter, interface cable, and single 
phase AC power source. DOE estimates this equipment would cost 
approximately $10,000 to $12,000.
    DOE estimated the necessary labor associated with performing the 
adopted test procedure to a single covered battery charger. DOE 
estimates that it would likely take between 80 and 115 hours to perform 
the test procedure on a single model. To get the labor rate of an 
employee to perform these test DOE used the median hourly wage of an 
electrical technician, $28.76.\6\ DOE adjusted the hourly wage by 23 
percent \7\ to account for the total fringe benefits, resulting in an 
estimated total hourly rate of $35.37. Therefore, DOE estimates a total 
labor burden of between $2,830 and $4,068 to test for each covered 
product.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational 
Employment and Wages, May 2014 (17-3023 Electrical and Electronics 
Engineering Technicians). http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes173023.htm.
    \7\ This is based on the ratio of total fringe benefits compared 
to the annual payroll taken from the 2014 Annual Survey of 
Manufacturers for NAICS code 335999. http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ASM_2014_31GS101&prodType=table.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE estimates that the one small businesses will need to test 41 
models to comply with the adopted battery charger test procedure. This 
means the small business' total labor burden would be between $116,030 
and $166,788 to test all their covered battery chargers to the adopted 
test procedure. Therefore, DOE's total testing burden, labor burden and 
testing equipment, is estimated at between $126,030 and $178,788.
    Therefore, DOE certifies that this rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. DOE has 
submitted a certification and supporting statement of factual basis to 
the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for 
review under 5 U.S.C. 605(b).

C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    If DOE adopts the energy conservation standards proposed in the 
September 1, 2016, battery chargers energy conservation standards 
Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNOPR), manufacturers of 
battery chargers will be required to certify that their products comply 
with those standards. In certifying compliance, manufacturers must test 
their products according to the applicable DOE test procedure, 
including any amendments adopted for that test procedure. DOE has 
established regulations for the certification and recordkeeping 
requirements for all covered consumer products and commercial 
equipment, and is finalizing specific requirements for battery chargers 
in this rule. See 10 CFR part 429, subpart B. The collection-of-
information requirement for the certification and recordkeeping is 
subject to review and approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA). This requirement has been approved by OMB under OMB control 
number 1910-1400. This information collection was renewed in January 
2015 to include certification requirements for battery chargers. 80 FR 
5099 (January 30, 2015). Public reporting burden for the certification 
is estimated to average 30 hours per respondent per year, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing 
the collection of information.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number.

D. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

    In this final rule, DOE amends its test procedure for battery 
chargers, which will likely be used to develop and implement future 
energy conservation standards for battery chargers. DOE has determined 
that this rule falls into a class of actions that are categorically 
excluded from review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and DOE's implementing regulations at 10 
CFR part 1021. Specifically, this final rule amends the existing test 
procedure without affecting the amount, quality or distribution of 
energy usage, and, therefore, would not result in any environment 
impacts. Thus, this rulemaking is covered by Categorical Exclusion A5 
under 10 CFR part 1021, subpart D, which applies to any rulemaking that 
interprets or amends an existing rule without changing the 
environmental effect of that rule. Accordingly, neither an 
environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is 
required.

[[Page 31839]]

E. Review Under Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism,'' 64 FR 43255 (August 4, 
1999), imposes certain requirements on agencies formulating and 
implementing policies or regulations that preempt State law or that 
have Federalism implications. The Executive Order requires agencies to 
examine the constitutional and statutory authority supporting any 
action that would limit the policymaking discretion of the States and 
to carefully assess the necessity for such actions. The Executive Order 
also requires agencies to have an accountable process to ensure 
meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the 
development of regulatory policies that have Federalism implications. 
On March 14, 2000, DOE published a statement of policy describing the 
intergovernmental consultation process it will follow in the 
development of such regulations. 65 FR 13735. DOE examined this final 
rule and determined that it will not have a substantial direct effect 
on the States, on the relationship between the national government and 
the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among 
the various levels of government. EPCA governs and prescribes Federal 
preemption of State regulations as to energy conservation for the 
products that are the subject of this final rule. States can petition 
DOE for exemption from such preemption to the extent, and based on 
criteria, set forth in EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)) No further action is 
required by Executive Order 13132.

F. Review Under Executive Order 12988

    Regarding the review of existing regulations and the promulgation 
of new regulations, section 3(a) of Executive Order 12988, ``Civil 
Justice Reform,'' 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996), imposes on Federal 
agencies the general duty to adhere to the following requirements: (1) 
Eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity; (2) write regulations to 
minimize litigation; (3) provide a clear legal standard for affected 
conduct rather than a general standard; and (4) promote simplification 
and burden reduction. Section 3(b) of Executive Order 12988 
specifically requires that Executive agencies make every reasonable 
effort to ensure that the regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the 
preemptive effect, if any; (2) clearly specifies any effect on existing 
Federal law or regulation; (3) provides a clear legal standard for 
affected conduct while promoting simplification and burden reduction; 
(4) specifies the retroactive effect, if any; (5) adequately defines 
key terms; and (6) addresses other important issues affecting clarity 
and general draftsmanship under any guidelines issued by the Attorney 
General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order 12988 requires Executive 
agencies to review regulations in light of applicable standards in 
sections 3(a) and 3(b) to determine whether they are met or it is 
unreasonable to meet one or more of them. DOE has completed the 
required review and determined that, to the extent permitted by law, 
this final rule meets the relevant standards of Executive Order 12988.

G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) 
requires each Federal agency to assess the effects of Federal 
regulatory actions on State, local, and Tribal governments and the 
private sector. Public Law 104-4, sec. 201 (codified at 2 U.S.C. 1531). 
For a regulatory action resulting in a rule that may cause the 
expenditure by State, local, and Tribal governments, in the aggregate, 
or by the private sector of $100 million or more in any one year 
(adjusted annually for inflation), section 202 of UMRA requires a 
Federal agency to publish a written statement that estimates the 
resulting costs, benefits, and other effects on the national economy. 
(2 U.S.C. 1532(a), (b)) The UMRA also requires a Federal agency to 
develop an effective process to permit timely input by elected officers 
of State, local, and Tribal governments on a proposed ``significant 
intergovernmental mandate,'' and requires an agency plan for giving 
notice and opportunity for timely input to potentially affected small 
governments before establishing any requirements that might 
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. On March 18, 1997, 
DOE published a statement of policy on its process for 
intergovernmental consultation under UMRA. 62 FR 12820. (This policy is 
also available at http://energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel). DOE 
examined this final rule according to UMRA and its statement of policy 
and determined that the rule contains neither an intergovernmental 
mandate, nor a mandate that may result in the expenditure of $100 
million or more in any year, so these requirements do not apply.

H. Review Under the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 
1999

    Section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105-277) requires Federal agencies to issue a Family 
Policymaking Assessment for any rule that may affect family well-being. 
This final rule will not have any impact on the autonomy or integrity 
of the family as an institution. Accordingly, DOE has concluded that it 
is not necessary to prepare a Family Policymaking Assessment.

I. Review Under Executive Order 12630

    DOE has determined, under Executive Order 12630, ``Governmental 
Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property 
Rights,'' 53 FR 8859 (March 18, 1988), that this regulation will not 
result in any takings that might require compensation under the Fifth 
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

J. Review Under Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 
2001

    Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note) provides for agencies to review most 
disseminations of information to the public under guidelines 
established by each agency pursuant to general guidelines issued by 
OMB. OMB's guidelines were published at 67 FR 8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and 
DOE's guidelines were published at 67 FR 62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has 
reviewed this final rule under the OMB and DOE guidelines and has 
concluded that it is consistent with applicable policies in those 
guidelines.

K. Review Under Executive Order 13211

    Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use,'' 66 FR 28355 
(May 22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to prepare and submit to OMB, 
a Statement of Energy Effects for any significant energy action. A 
``significant energy action'' is defined as any action by an agency 
that promulgated or is expected to lead to promulgation of a final 
rule, and that: (1) Is a significant regulatory action under Executive 
Order 12866, or any successor order; and (2) is likely to have a 
significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of 
energy; or (3) is designated by the Administrator of OIRA as a 
significant energy action. For any proposed significant energy action, 
the agency must give a detailed statement of any adverse effects on 
energy supply, distribution, or use if the action is implemented, and 
of reasonable alternatives to the action and their expected benefits on 
energy supply, distribution, and use.
    This regulatory action is not a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866. Moreover, it would not have a significant 
adverse

[[Page 31840]]

effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy, nor has it been 
designated as a significant energy action by the Administrator of OIRA. 
Therefore, it is not a significant energy action, and, accordingly, DOE 
has not prepared a Statement of Energy Effects.

L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 
1974

    Under section 301 of the Department of Energy Organization Act 
(Pub. L. 95-91; 42 U.S.C. 7101), DOE must comply with section 32 of the 
Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, as amended by the Federal 
Energy Administration Authorization Act of 1977. (15 U.S.C. 788; FEAA) 
Section 32 essentially provides in relevant part that, where a proposed 
rule authorizes or requires use of commercial standards, the notice of 
proposed rulemaking must inform the public of the use and background of 
such standards. In addition, section 32(c) requires DOE to consult with 
the Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission 
(``FTC'') concerning the impact of the commercial or industry standards 
on competition.
    The final rule incorporates testing methods contained in the 
following commercial standards: IEC Standard 62301 ``Household 
electrical appliances--Measurement of standby power.'' DOE has 
evaluated these testing standards and believes that the IEC standard 
complies with the requirements of section 32(b) of the Federal Energy 
Administration Act (i.e., that they were developed in a manner that 
fully provides for public participation, comment, and review). DOE has, 
however, consulted with the Attorney General and the Chairwoman of FTC 
concerning the effect on competition of requiring manufacturers to use 
the test method in this standard.

M. Congressional Notification

    As required by 5 U.S.C. 801, DOE will report to Congress on the 
promulgation of this rule before its effective date. The report will 
state that it has been determined that the rule is not a ``major rule'' 
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

N. Description of Material Incorporated by Reference

    DOE previously adopted instrumentation resolution and measurement 
uncertainty requirements for testing battery chargers identical to 
those in the IEC 62301 standard and codified these requirements at 10 
CFR part 430, subpart B, Appendix Y on June 1, 2011. 76 FR 31750. The 
IEC published Edition 2.0 of IEC 62301 in January 2011, which is 
available from the American National Standards Institute, 25 W. 43rd 
Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036 or at http://webstore.ansi.org/. 
This revised version of the testing standard refined the test equipment 
specifications, measuring techniques, and uncertainty determination to 
improve the method for measuring loads with high crest factors and/or 
low power factors, such as the low power modes typical of battery 
chargers operating in standby mode. These provisions were contained in 
section 4 of IEC 62301, with informative guidance provided in Annex B 
and Annex D on measuring low power modes and determining measurement 
uncertainty. DOE has already incorporated by reference Edition 2.0 of 
IEC 62301 in 10 CFR part 430 for use with other test procedures, and is 
now incorporating by reference Edition 2.0 in appendix Y as well.

V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

    The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of this final 
rule.

List of Subjects

10 CFR Part 429

    Confidential business information, Energy conservation, Household 
appliances, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

10 CFR Part 430

    Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business 
information, Energy conservation, Household appliances, Imports, 
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Small 
businesses.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 6, 2016.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, DOE is amending parts 429 
and 430 of chapter II of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations as set 
forth below:

PART 429--CERTIFICATION, COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT FOR CONSUMER 
PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT

0
1. The authority citation for part 429 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291-6317.


0
2. Revise Sec.  429.39 to read as follows:


Sec.  429.39  Battery chargers.

    (a) Determination of represented values. Manufacturers must 
determine represented values, which include certified ratings, for each 
basic model of battery charger in accordance with the following 
sampling provisions.
    (1) Represented values include: the unit energy consumption (UEC) 
in kilowatt-hours per year (kWh/yr), battery discharge energy 
(Ebatt) in watt-hours (Wh), 24-hour energy consumption 
(E24) in watt-hours (Wh), maintenance mode power 
(Pm) in watts (W), standby mode power (Psb) in 
watts (W), off mode power (Poff) in watts (W), and duration 
of the charge and maintenance mode test (tcd) in hours 
(hrs).
    (2) Units to be tested. (i) The general requirements of Sec.  
429.11 are applicable to battery chargers; and
    (ii) For each basic model, a sample of sufficient size shall be 
randomly selected and tested to ensure that the represented value of 
UEC is greater than or equal to the higher of:

    (A) The mean of the sample, where:
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR20MY16.160
    
and, x is the sample mean; n is the number of samples; and 
xi is the UEC of the ith sample or,
    (B) The upper 97.5-percent confidence limit (UCL) of the true 
mean divided by 1.05, where:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR20MY16.161

and x is the sample mean; s is the sample standard deviation; n is 
the number of samples; and t0.975 is the t-statistic for 
a 97.5-percent one-tailed confidence interval with n-1 degrees of 
freedom (from appendix A of this subpart).

    (3) Using the sample from paragraph (a)(2) of this section, 
calculate the represented values of each metric (i.e., maintenance mode 
power (Pm), standby power (Psb), off mode power 
(Poff), battery discharge energy (EBatt), 24-hour 
energy consumption (E24), and duration of the charge and 
maintenance mode test (tcd)), where:

[[Page 31841]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR20MY16.162


and, is x is the metric, the sample mean; n is the number of samples; 
and xi is the measured value of the ith sample for the 
metric x.
    (b) Certification reports. (1) The requirements of Sec.  429.12 are 
applicable to battery chargers.
    (2) Pursuant to Sec.  429.12(b)(13), a certification report must 
include the following product-specific information: The nameplate 
battery voltage of the test battery in volts (V), the nameplate battery 
charge capacity of the test battery in ampere-hours (Ah), and the 
nameplate battery energy capacity of the test battery in watt-hours 
(Wh). A certification report must also include the represented values, 
as determined in paragraph (a) of this section for the maintenance mode 
power (Pm), standby mode power (Psb), off mode 
power (Poff), battery discharge energy (Ebatt), 
24-hour energy consumption (E24), duration of the charge and 
maintenance mode test (tcd), and unit energy consumption 
(UEC).
    (3) Pursuant to Sec.  429.12(b)(13), a certification report must 
include the following product-specific information: The manufacturer 
and model of the test battery, and the manufacturer and model, when 
applicable, of the external power supply.

0
3. Revise paragraph (e) of Sec.  429.110 to read as follows:


Sec.  429.110  Enforcement testing.

* * * * *
    (e) Basic model compliance. DOE will evaluate whether a basic model 
complies with the applicable energy conservation standard(s) based on 
testing conducted in accordance with the applicable test procedures 
specified in parts 430 and 431 of this chapter, and with the following 
statistical sampling procedures:
    (1) For products with applicable energy conservation standard(s) in 
Sec.  430.32 of this chapter, and commercial prerinse spray valves, 
illuminated exit signs, traffic signal modules and pedestrian modules, 
commercial clothes washers, and metal halide lamp ballasts, DOE will 
use a sample size of not more than 21 units and follow the sampling 
plans in appendix A of this subpart (Sampling for Enforcement Testing 
of Covered Consumer Products and Certain High-Volume Commercial 
Equipment).
    (2) For automatic commercial ice makers; commercial refrigerators, 
freezers, and refrigerator-freezers; refrigerated bottled or canned 
vending machines; commercial air conditioners and heat pumps; 
commercial packaged boilers; commercial warm air furnaces; and 
commercial water heating equipment, DOE will use an initial sample size 
of not more than four units and follow the sampling plans in appendix B 
of this subpart (Sampling Plan for Enforcement Testing of Covered 
Equipment and Certain Low-Volume Covered Products).
    (3) If fewer than four units of a basic model are available for 
testing (under paragraphs (e)(1) or (2) of this section) when the 
manufacturer receives the notice, then:
    (i) DOE will test the available unit(s); or
    (ii) If one or more other units of the basic model are expected to 
become available within 30 calendar days, DOE may instead, at its 
discretion, test either:
    (A) The available unit(s) and one or more of the other units that 
subsequently become available (up to a maximum of four); or
    (B) Up to four of the other units that subsequently become 
available.
    (4) For distribution transformers, DOE will use an initial sample 
size of not more than five units and follow the sampling plans in 
appendix C of this subpart (Sampling Plan for Enforcement Testing of 
Distribution Transformers). If fewer than five units of a basic model 
are available for testing when the manufacturer receives the test 
notice, then:
    (i) DOE will test the available unit(s); or
    (ii) If one or more other units of the basic model are expected to 
become available within 30 calendar days, DOE may instead, at its 
discretion, test either:
    (A) The available unit(s) and one or more of the other units that 
subsequently become available (up to a maximum of five); or
    (B) Up to five of the other units that subsequently become 
available.
    (5) For pumps, DOE will use an initial sample size of not more than 
four units and will determine compliance based on the arithmetic mean 
of the sample.
    (6) Notwithstanding paragraphs (e)(1) through (5) of this section, 
if testing of the available or subsequently available units of a basic 
model would be impractical, as for example when a basic model has 
unusual testing requirements or has limited production, DOE may in its 
discretion decide to base the determination of compliance on the 
testing of fewer than the otherwise required number of units.
    (7) When DOE makes a determination in accordance with paragraph 
(e)(6) to test less than the number of units specified in paragraphs 
(e)(1) through (5) of this section, DOE will base the compliance 
determination on the results of such testing in accordance with 
appendix B of this subpart (Sampling Plan for Enforcement Testing of 
Covered Equipment and Certain Low-Volume Covered Products) using a 
sample size (n1) equal to the number of units tested.
    (8) For the purposes of this section, available units are those 
that are available for distribution in commerce within the United 
States.

PART 430--ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS

0
4. The authority citation for part 430 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291-6309; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.


0
5. In Sec.  430.2 add in alphabetical order the definition of ``Back-up 
battery charger'' to read as follows:


Sec.  430.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Back-up battery charger means a battery charger excluding UPSs:
    (1) That is embedded in a separate end-use product that is designed 
to continuously operate using mains power (including end-use products 
that use external power supplies); and
    (2) Whose sole purpose is to recharge a battery used to maintain 
continuity of power in order to provide normal or partial operation of 
a product in case of input power failure.
* * * * *


Sec.  430.3  [Amended]

0
6. In Sec.  430.3, paragraph (p)(5) is amended by removing ``and Z of 
subpart B'' and adding in its place ``, Y, and Z of subpart B''.

0
7. In Sec.  430.23, revise paragraph (aa) to read as follows:


Sec.  430.23  Test procedures for the measurement of energy and water 
consumption.

* * * * *
    (aa) Battery Chargers. (1) Measure the maintenance mode power, 
standby power, off mode power, battery discharge energy, 24-hour energy 
consumption and measured duration of the charge and maintenance mode 
test for a battery charger in accordance with appendix Y to this 
subpart.

[[Page 31842]]

    (2) Calculate the unit energy consumption of a battery charger in 
accordance with appendix Y to this subpart.
* * * * *

0
8. Appendix Y to Subpart B of Part 430 is amended by:
0
a. Revising the introductory text to appendix Y;
0
b. Revising section 1, Scope;
0
c. Revising sections 2.10, 2.17, 2.19, 2.20 and 2.21;
0
d. Revising Table 3.1 and section 3.2;
0
e. Revising the undesignated center heading directly above section 4.1. 
General Setup;
0
f. Revising sections 4.3.b. and 4.3c. and Table 4.1;
0
g. Revising sections 5.1, 5.3.a., 5.3.d., 5.8.c.(2), and Table 5.2; and
0
h. Adding a new section 5.13, Unit Energy Consumption Calculation.
    The revisions and additions read as follows:

Appendix Y to Subpart B of Part 430--Uniform Test Method for Measuring 
the Energy Consumption of Battery Chargers

    Prior to November 16, 2016, manufacturers must make any 
representations regarding the energy consumption of battery chargers 
based upon results generated under this appendix or the previous 
version of this appendix as it appeared in the Code of Federal 
Regulations on January 1, 2016. On or after November 16, 2016, 
manufacturers must make any representations regarding the energy 
consumption of battery chargers based upon results generated under this 
appendix.

1. Scope

    This appendix provides the test requirements used to measure the 
energy consumption for battery chargers operating at either DC or 
United States AC line voltage (115V at 60Hz). This appendix does not 
provide a method for testing back-up battery chargers or 
uninterruptable power supplies.
    2. * * *
    2.10. C-Rate (C) is the rate of charge or discharge, calculated by 
dividing the charge or discharge current by the nameplate battery 
charge capacity of the battery.
* * * * *
    2.17. Multi-voltage charger is a battery charger that, by design, 
can charge a variety of batteries (or batches of batteries, if also a 
batch charger) that are of different nameplate battery voltages. A 
multi-voltage charger can also be a multi-port charger if it can charge 
two or more batteries simultaneously with independent voltages and/or 
current regulation.
* * * * *
    2.19. Nameplate battery voltage is specified by the battery 
manufacturer and typically printed on the label of the battery itself. 
If there are multiple batteries that are connected in series, the 
nameplate battery voltage of the batteries is the total voltage of the 
series configuration--that is, the nameplate voltage of each battery 
multiplied by the number of batteries connected in series. Connecting 
multiple batteries in parallel does not affect the nameplate battery 
voltage.
    2.20. Nameplate battery charge capacity is the capacity, claimed by 
the battery manufacturer on a label or in instructions, that the 
battery can store, usually given in ampere-hours (Ah) or milliampere-
hours (mAh) and typically printed on the label of the battery itself. 
If there are multiple batteries that are connected in parallel, the 
nameplate battery charge capacity of the batteries is the total charge 
capacity of the parallel configuration, that is, the nameplate charge 
capacity of each battery multiplied by the number of batteries 
connected in parallel. Connecting multiple batteries in series does not 
affect the nameplate charge capacity.
    2.21. Nameplate battery energy capacity means the product (in 
watts-hours (Wh)) of the nameplate battery voltage and the nameplate 
battery charge capacity.
* * * * *
    3. * * *
* * * * *

            Table 3.1--List of Measured or Calculated Values
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Name of measured or calculated value              Reference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Duration of the charge and maintenance  Section 5.2.
 mode test, tcd (hrs).
2. Battery Discharge Energy, EBatt (Wh)..  Section 5.8.
3. Initial time and power (W) of the       Section 5.6.
 input current of connected battery (A).
4. Active and Maintenance Mode Energy      Section 5.6.
 Consumption (W, hrs).
5. Maintenance Mode Power, Pm (W)........  Section 5.9.
6. 24 Hour Energy Consumption, E24 (Wh)..  Section 5.10.
7. Standby Mode Power, Psb (W)...........  Section 5.11.
8. Off Mode Power, Poff (W)..............  Section 5.12.
9. Unit Energy Consumption, UEC (kWh/yr).  Section 5.13.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3.2. Verifying Accuracy and Precision of Measuring Equipment
    Any power measurement equipment utilized for testing must conform 
to the uncertainty and resolution requirements outlined in section 4, 
``General conditions for measurements'', as well as annexes B, ``Notes 
on the measurement of low power modes'', and D, ``Determination of 
uncertainty of measurement'', of IEC 62301 (incorporated by reference, 
see Sec.  430.3).
* * * * *

4. Unit Under Test Setup Requirements

* * * * *
    4.3. * * *
    b. From the detachable batteries specified above, use Table 4.1 to 
select the batteries to be used for testing, depending on the type of 
battery charger being tested. The battery charger types represented by 
the rows in the table are mutually exclusive. Find the single 
applicable row for the UUT, and test according to those requirements. 
Select only the single battery configuration specified for the battery 
charger type in Table 4.1.
    If the battery selection criteria specified in Table 4.1 results in 
two or more batteries or configurations of batteries of different 
chemistries, but with equal voltage and capacity ratings, determine the 
maintenance mode power, as specified in section 5.9, for each of the 
batteries or configurations of batteries, and select for testing the 
battery or configuration of batteries with the highest maintenance mode 
power.
    c. A charger is considered as:
    (1) Single-capacity if all associated batteries have the same 
nameplate battery charge capacity (see definition) and, if it is a 
batch charger, all configurations of the batteries have the same 
nameplate battery charge capacity.
    (2) Multi-capacity if there are associated batteries or 
configurations of batteries that have different nameplate battery 
charge capacities.
* * * * *

[[Page 31843]]



                                    Table 4.1--Battery Selection for Testing
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Type of charger                                    Battery or configuration of
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  batteries to select (from
                                                                                      all configurations of all
           Multi-voltage                   Multi-port            Multi- capacity        associated batteries)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No.................................  No....................  No....................  Any associated battery.
No.................................  No....................  Yes...................  Highest charge capacity
                                                                                      battery.
No.................................  Yes...................  Yes or No.............  Use all ports. Use the
                                                                                      maximum number of
                                                                                      identical batteries with
                                                                                      the highest nameplate
                                                                                      battery charge capacity
                                                                                      that the charger can
                                                                                      accommodate.
Yes................................  No....................  No....................  Highest voltage battery.
                                    ------------------------------------------------
Yes................................               Yes to either or both              Use all ports. Use the
                                                                                      battery or configuration
                                                                                      of batteries with the
                                                                                      highest individual
                                                                                      voltage. If multiple
                                                                                      batteries meet this
                                                                                      criteria, then use the
                                                                                      battery or configuration
                                                                                      of batteries with the
                                                                                      highest total nameplate
                                                                                      battery charge capacity at
                                                                                      the highest individual
                                                                                      voltage.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    5. * * *
    5.1. Recording General Data on the UUT
    The technician must record:
    (1) The manufacturer and model of the battery charger;
    (2) The presence and status of any additional functions unrelated 
to battery charging;
    (3) The manufacturer, model, and number of batteries in the test 
battery;
    (4) The nameplate battery voltage of the test battery;
    (5) The nameplate battery charge capacity of the test battery; and
    (6) The nameplate battery energy capacity of the test battery.
    (7) The settings of the controls, if the battery charger has user 
controls to select from two or more charge rates.
* * * * *
    5.3. * * *
    a. No conditioning is to be done on lithium-ion batteries. Proceed 
directly to battery preparation, section 5.4, when testing chargers for 
these batteries.
* * * * *
    d. Batteries of chemistries, other than lithium-ion, that are known 
to have been through at least two previous full charge/discharge cycles 
must only be charged once per step c.(5) of this section.
* * * * *
    5.8. * * *
    c. * * *
    (2) Set the battery analyzer for a constant discharge rate and the 
end-of-discharge voltage in Table 5.2 of this appendix for the relevant 
battery chemistry.
* * * * *
    5.10. * * *
* * * * *

Table 5.2--Required Battery Discharge Rates and End-of-Discharge Battery
                                Voltages
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               End-of-
                                                              discharge
              Battery  chemistry                 Discharge    voltage *
                                                  rate  C     volts per
                                                                 cell
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Valve-Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA)..............          0.2         1.75
Flooded Lead Acid.............................          0.2         1.70
Nickel Cadmium (NiCd).........................          0.2          1.0
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)...................          0.2          1.0
Lithium Ion (Li-Ion)..........................          0.2          2.5
Lithium Polymer...............................          0.2          2.5
Rechargeable Alkaline.........................          0.2          0.9
Nanophosphate Lithium Ion.....................          0.2          2.0
Silver Zinc...................................          0.2          1.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* If the presence of protective circuitry prevents the battery cells
  from being discharged to the end-of-discharge voltage specified, then
  discharge battery cells to the lowest possible voltage permitted by
  the protective circuitry.

* * * * *
    5.13. Unit Energy Consumption Calculation
    Calculate unit energy consumption (UEC) for a battery charger using 
one of the two equations (equation (i) or equation (ii)) listed below. 
If a battery charger is tested and its charge duration as determined in 
section 5.2 of this appendix minus 5 hours is greater than the 
threshold charge time listed in table 5.3 below (i.e. (tcd-
5) * n > ta&m), use equation (ii) to calculate UEC; 
otherwise calculate the battery charger's UEC using equation (i).

[[Page 31844]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR20MY16.163

Where:

E24 = 24-hour energy as determined in section 5.10 of 
this appendix,
Ebatt = Measured battery energy as determined in section 
5.8 of this appendix,
Pm = Maintenance mode power as determined in section 5.9 
of this appendix,
Psb = Standby mode power as determined in section 5.11 of 
this appendix,
Poff = Off mode power as determined in section 5.12 of 
this appendix,
tcd = Charge test duration as determined in section 5.2 
of this appendix, and
ta&m, n, tsb, and toff, are 
constants used depending upon a device's product class and found in 
the following table:

                                                        Table 5.3--Battery Charger Usage Profiles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Product class                                                 Hours per day ***              Charges     Threshold
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------     (n)      charge time
                                                                                           Active +                            -------------      *
     No.            Description          Rated battery energy   Special  characteristic  maintenance    Standby    Off  (toff)   Number per ------------
                                              (Ebatt) **           or battery voltage       (ta&m)       (tsb)                      day         Hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........  Low-Energy.............  <=5 Wh.................  Inductive Connection           20.66         0.10         0.00         0.15       137.73
                                                                 ****.
2...........  Low-Energy, Low-Voltage  <100 Wh................  <4 V...................         7.82         5.29         0.00         0.54        14.48
3...........  Low-Energy, Medium-      .......................  4-10 V.................         6.42         0.30         0.00         0.10        64.20
               Voltage.
4...........  Low-Energy, High-        .......................  >10 V..................        16.84         0.91         0.00         0.50        33.68
               Voltage.
5...........  Medium-Energy, Low-      100-3000 Wh............  <20 V..................         6.52         1.16         0.00         0.11        59.27
               Voltage.
6...........  Medium-Energy, High-     .......................  >=20 V.................        17.15         6.85         0.00         0.34        50.44
               Voltage.
7...........  High-Energy............  >3000 Wh...............  .......................         8.14         7.30         0.00         0.32        25.44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* If the duration of the charge test (minus 5 hours) as determined in section 5.2 of appendix Y to subpart B of this part exceeds the threshold charge
  time, use equation (ii) to calculate UEC otherwise use equation (i).
** Ebatt = Rated battery energy as determined in 10 CFR part 429.39(a).
*** If the total time does not sum to 24 hours per day, the remaining time is allocated to unplugged time, which means there is 0 power consumption and
  no changes to the UEC calculation needed.
**** Inductive connection and designed for use in a wet environment (e.g. electric toothbrushes).

[FR Doc. 2016-11486 Filed 5-19-16; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P