The Nickel Report

Among the changes, the proposed rule would amend Hazardous Materials Regulations to treat sodium ion batteries in a manner similar to the way lithium ion batteries are regulated.

On February 10, 2026, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to adopt certain international regulations and standards concerning proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quality limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. Notably, in this NPRM, PHMSA recognizes the increased use of sodium ion batteries and proposes various changes to regulate them in the same manner as lithium ion batteries.