Department of Transportation eases transport rules for portable lithium batteries, raising limits and cutting regulation

The federal government is loosening transport rules for lithium-ion batteries, the kind used in portable power stations, electric tools, and backup battery gear. The Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued a set of 16 rule changes, most taking effect September 3, 2026. The key one for homeowners and anyone using battery-powered equipment is called HM-268C, which raises the weight limit for carrying lithium batteries in a vehicle.

Previously, lithium batteries were lumped in with other hazardous materials under a shared 200-kilogram (440-pound) limit per vehicle — meaning a truck carrying a battery-powered lawnmower plus some fuel or paint could hit that cap fast, and doing so could trigger stricter hazmat rules. The new rule raises the limit specifically for lithium batteries to 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) per vehicle, allows individual spare batteries up to 30 kilograms (66 pounds), and no longer counts batteries already installed in equipment toward that total. Packaging rules are also relaxed if batteries are securely strapped in place.

This mostly affects contractors and tradespeople who haul battery-powered tools and portable power stations, making it easier and cheaper to transport them without hazmat paperwork or special driver certification. For homeowners, it's a sign that battery-powered equipment, from lawn tools to portable power stations, may become more available and less costly as these logistics barriers ease. Separately, the article notes a recent FCC move blocking certification of new foreign-made battery inverters, which could affect future product availability from brands manufactured overseas.