Designated IEEE P1825, the standard will set uniform criteria for the design, production and evaluation of lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries. It will address battery pack electrical and mechanical construction, packaging technologies, and pack and cell charge and discharge controls.

IEEE P1825 will also give manufacturers and suppliers guidelines to plan and implement design analysis, testing and qualification to ensure battery quality and reliability. The standard will also recommend user education and related communication materials.

"This effort will build on existing IEEE standards for rechargeable laptop and cell phone batteries, which will enable a robust standard to be completed in less than 18 months," said Edward Rashba, Manager New Technical Programs at IEEE-SA, in a statement. "To ensure the broadest spectrum of expertise is brought to bear, we have reached out to the International Imaging Industry Association and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) to engage in the effort."

To date, IEEE has developed the 1625 laptop battery standard and the 1725 mobile cell phone battery standard. The association plans to revise IEEE 1625 by the year's end.