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George Kerchner, Executive Director,
PRBA/Portable Rechargeable Battery Assoc.:
"Regulatory and Policy Challenges for Lithium ion Batteries
in Large Format Applications"

While lithium ion batteries are well known for their use in portable electronic equipment like cellular phones, notebook computers, DVD players, and MP3 players, over the past five years their use has increasingly expanded into “large format” applications for telecommunications, hybrid-electric vehicles, electric vehicles, and for the military and aerospace purposes.  As a result, the regulatory and policy issues once thought to be unique to portable lithium ion batteries have now carried over to the large format applications.  These include such issues as safety, transportation, and recycling.

PRBA has long been recognized as the voice of the portable rechargeable battery industry but now its members include manufacturers and users of large format lithium ion batteries.  Therefore, PRBA has started working with agencies and organization such as the Society of Automotive Engineers, U.S. Department of Transportation, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), United Nations Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel, and International Maritime Organization to address regulatory and policy issues unique to large format lithium ion batteries.

About George Kerchner:

Mr. Kerchner serves as the Executive Director of the Portable Rechargeable Battery Association (PRBA) in Washington, DC.  He represents PRBA and other battery trade associations at domestic and international forums such as the United Nations Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel.  He also has experience in the environmental policy and regulatory fields and focuses on issues affecting the portable rechargeable battery and lead battery industries as well as the portable electronics industry.