ATTENTION: This site is no longer being maintained. Please find the latest Appliance Standards information at the following site: https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/standards-and-test-procedures

Important Note: The content on this page is archived and is no longer actively maintained.
Please visit the new product standard page for the latest information.

Battery Chargers

Sign up for e-mail updates on regulations for this and other products

The Department of Energy (DOE) does not currently regulate battery chargers. Battery chargers charge batteries for consumer products, including battery chargers embedded in other consumer products.

The Standards and Test Procedures for this product are related to Rulemaking for Battery Chargers and External Power Supplies Energy Conservation Standard.

Recent Updates

DOE has published a Federal Register supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking regarding energy conservation standards for battery chargers 80 FR 52932 (September 1, 2015). A public meeting is scheduled for September 15, 2015 in Washington, DC. For more information, please see the rulemaking webpage.

DOE has published a Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking regarding test procedures for battery chargers 80 FR 46855 (August 6, 2015) which proposes several revisions to the battery charger test procedure in Appendix Y to 10 CFR part 430 subpart B. A public meeting is scheduled for September 15, 2015 in Washington, DC. For more information, please see the rulemaking page.

Standards for Battery Chargers

There are no efficiency standards currently in place for battery chargers.

Test Procedure for Battery Chargers

DOE has established a test procedure for battery chargers, which is specified at 10 CFR 430.23(aa). The methods to conduct the test procedure for battery chargers are further specified in 10 CFR Part 430 Appendix Y to Subpart B. This is also in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.

Final Rule: Test Procedures, Federal Register, 71 FR 31750 (June 1, 2011)
Docket No. EERE-2009-BT-TP-0019 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this test procedure, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.

Waivers, Exceptions, and Exemptions

Waivers

Test procedure waivers have not been issued for battery chargers.

For information about obtaining test procedure waivers, see 10 CFR section 430.27.

Exceptions

DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for battery chargers.

For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.

State Exemptions to Federal Pre-emption

DOE has not exempted any state from this energy conservation standard. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the Federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart D.

Small Business Exemptions

Any manufacturer of a covered product with annual gross revenues that do not exceed $8,000,000 from all its operations and meets certain other conditions may apply for an exemption to the energy conservation standard. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart E.

Statutory Authority

Part A of the ‘‘Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles’’ of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended provides DOE authority to establish energy conservation standards for battery chargers. (42 U.S.C. § 6291–6309) Battery Chargers are treated as covered products’ under Part A. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)).

Historical Information

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) amended EPCA with regard to the energy conservation program for battery chargers.

The statute also requires DOE to issue a final rule prescribing energy conservation standards for battery chargers (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(1)(E)(i)(II).

Previous Test Procedure Rulemakings

2009 Final Rule

Final Rule: Test Procedure, Federal Register, 74 FR 13318 (March 27, 2009)
Docket No. EERE-2008-BT-TP-0004 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

2006 Final Rule

Final Rule: Test Procedure, Federal Register, 71 FR 71340 (Dec. 8, 2006)
Docket No. EERE-2006-TP-0121 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

Other Previous Rulemakings

EISA 2007 Non-Class A EPS Determination Analysis

Final Rule: Determination Concerning the Potential for Energy Conservation Standards for Non-Class A External Power Supplies, Federal Register, 75 FR 27170 (May 14, 2010)
Docket No. EERE-2009-BT-DET-0005 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

EPACT 2005 Battery Charger and External Power Supply Determination Analysis

Proposed Rule: Energy Conservation Standards for Battery Chargers and External Power Supplies, Federal Register, 71 FR 78389 (December 29, 2006)
Docket No. EERE-2006-DET-0136 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

Helpful Links and Contact Information

Contact information

For more information related to the regulation of this product, please email:

battery_chargers_and_external_power_supplies@ee.doe.gov