VDA 355 Module Datasheet: Key Figures Explained
Short answer: A VDA 355 module datasheet contains at minimum: nominal voltage, operating voltage window, capacity in Ah, energy in kWh, continuous and peak current ratings, cycle life at a stated depth of discharge, weight, and certification references. Comparing datasheets correctly requires reading each figure against its stated conditions — not in isolation.
Putting two or three VDA 355 module datasheets side by side is a routine step in module selection, and it is easy to misread. The numbers look comparable because the modules share the same physical envelope — roughly 355 × 151 × 108 mm — but the electrical and electrochemical specifications beneath them can be stated under different conditions, using different conventions, and sometimes inconsistent terminology. This guide works through each datasheet field in the order a buyer typically encounters it.
Nominal voltage versus operating voltage window
Nominal voltage is a single-point reference, not an operating value. It follows from the number of cells in series and the cell chemistry. The three NMC modules in the VDA 355 format in the Avantis Energy catalogue show the spread: 14.64 V for the 1P4S, 14.68 V for the 3P4S and 22.02 V for the 2P6S. These figures tell you the voltage class of the module and how many you will need in series.
The operating voltage window — the charge and discharge cut-off voltages — tells you the actual range the module is designed to work within, and it is the figure a pack is sized on. The 1P4S and 3P4S both run 11.2–17.4 V. The 2P6S is specified per temperature band: 16.5–26.1 V between 0 and 55 °C, and 13.2–26.1 V between −30 and 0 °C. Two datasheets that look alike at room temperature can therefore behave differently in the cold. If a datasheet gives one window without a temperature qualifier, ask whether it applies across the full operating range before you configure the BMS.
Capacity and energy: Ah versus kWh
Capacity in ampere-hours (Ah) and energy in kilowatt-hours (kWh) are related but not interchangeable for comparison purposes. Capacity tells you how much charge the module can deliver; energy is that charge multiplied by voltage. Because voltage varies across the discharge curve, the energy figure on a datasheet is typically calculated at the nominal voltage, which is a simplification.
When comparing modules, use the kWh figure as the primary energy metric and check that both datasheets state it under the same discharge conditions. A module discharged at a higher current delivers slightly less usable energy than the same module discharged slowly, because of internal resistance losses. The catalogue figures illustrate why kWh is the better metric: the 2P6S has 116 Ah and the 3P4S 174 Ah, yet their energy is nearly the same (2.55 and 2.59 kWh), because the 2P6S runs at a higher voltage.
Current ratings: rated, continuous and peak
This is where datasheet inconsistency is most common. Three terms appear across the catalogue:
- Rated current: the reference current for the capacity figure. For the three VDA 355 modules it is 1C: 174 A for the 174 Ah modules, 116 A for the 2P6S.
- Continuous current: the maximum sustained current the module can carry without exceeding its thermal limits. Charge and discharge are often rated separately: the 174 Ah modules list 348 A continuous discharge but 209 A continuous charge.
- Peak current: a short-duration maximum to cover transient loads, such as acceleration in a vehicle.
The terms are not always used consistently. The catalogue lists the 2P6S with a maximum discharge of 309 A, lower than both its peak (332 A) and its maximum continuous discharge (332 A). One of those labels does not mean what it says, and only the full datasheet resolves which. Before recording a current figure for comparison, confirm which of the three concepts it represents and over what duration. For pack design, the continuous rating is the sizing constraint; the peak rating determines transient capability.
For how the cell chemistry shapes a module's characteristics in the first place, see the article on LFP versus NCM chemistry in the VDA 355 format.
Cycle life and depth of discharge
Cycle life is the figure most vulnerable to misreading, because it is meaningless without the depth of discharge (DoD) at which it was measured.
From the Avantis catalogue, three configurations illustrate this directly:
| Configuration | Chemistry | Cycle life | DoD basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1P4S | NMC | 2,000 cycles | 80 % DoD |
| 2P6S | NMC | 1,500 cycles | 80 % DoD |
| 3P4S | NMC | 1,500 cycles | 95 % DoD |
The 2P6S and the 3P4S both show 1,500 cycles, but the figures are not the same claim. The 3P4S reached its 1,500 cycles while using 95 % of its capacity each cycle; the 2P6S at 80 %. Deeper cycling is the harder test, so the 3P4S rating is the stronger of the two. In an application cycled to 80 % DoD you would expect it to do at least as well as its rating; by how much, the datasheet does not say. For sizing a stationary or vehicle application, compare cycle life on the same DoD basis, and ask the supplier for the figure at your own operating DoD when the datasheets differ.
Weight and gravimetric energy density
Module weight determines both the gravimetric energy density (Wh/kg) and the pack structural load. Datasheets state weight in kilograms; the buyer calculates Wh/kg by dividing the energy (in Wh) by the module mass. This figure is useful when comparing chemistries: NCM modules typically achieve higher gravimetric density than LFP modules of the same form factor, which matters in weight-sensitive vehicle applications but is secondary in stationary use. The three NMC modules in the catalogue sit between 209 and 214 Wh/kg. The VDA 355 module dimensions and specifications page gives a reference for the physical envelope that is constant across configurations.
Certifications: what they cover and what they do not
Two certification references appear regularly on module datasheets:
- UN 38.3: the transport test set out in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, published through UNECE, covering altitude, thermal, vibration, shock, short-circuit, impact and overcharge tests. It decides whether a module can be shipped at all; it is not a performance or safety approval for end use.
- IEC 62619: the safety requirements standard for secondary lithium cells and batteries in industrial applications, which is what a stationary storage system is assessed against. Conformance supports integration into such a system but does not approve every system design built with the module.
Certification lists differ more between modules than the specifications do. In the catalogue, the 2P6S and 3P4S carry UN 38.3, IEC 62619, UL, TÜV, JET and BIS; the 1P4S is listed with UN 38.3 and a safety data sheet only. A certificate that is not listed has not been recorded, which is not the same as failed. It means you ask for it before you design it in. For obligations under the EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542, see the EU regulations article on this site for a summary of what documentation is now required across the supply chain.
Datasheet comparison checklist
Use this table when placing datasheets side by side. Any cell left blank during review identifies a gap to resolve with the supplier before proceeding.
| Parameter | What to check | Common trap |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal voltage | Matches series configuration (number of cells × cell nominal V) | Confusing nominal with operating midpoint |
| Voltage window | Temperature-qualified or room-temperature only | Derating at low temperatures omitted |
| Capacity (Ah) | Discharge rate stated (C/5, C/3, 1C) | Different rates make Ah figures incomparable |
| Energy (kWh) | Calculated at nominal V or measured | Overstated if calculated at OCV |
| Continuous current | Thermal limit confirmed | Labelled as maximum when it means peak |
| Peak current | Duration stated (e.g. 10 s) | No duration = no usable figure |
| Cycle life | DoD basis stated; same DoD used for both modules | 95 % DoD figure compared to 80 % DoD figure |
| Weight | Module only, or including connectors and housing | Varies; affects Wh/kg calculation |
| Certifications | UN 38.3, IEC 62619 — scope and test date available | Assumed valid without checking scope |
Request a quotation or review the module range
If you are comparing specific configurations, the VDA and MEB module range from Avantis Energy carries per-product lead times and configuration details. To discuss a specific application or request a quotation, contact Avantis Energy directly.
Frequently asked questions
What does cycle life at 80 % DoD mean on a VDA 355 module datasheet?
It means the stated number of charge-discharge cycles was measured while using 80 % of the module's capacity each cycle. A figure given at 95 % DoD comes from a more demanding test and is not directly comparable: 1,500 cycles at 95 % DoD is the stronger rating than 1,500 cycles at 80 % DoD, because each cycle went deeper.
What is the difference between continuous current and peak current on a battery module datasheet?
Continuous current is the maximum sustained discharge current the module can carry within its thermal limits over an extended period. Peak current is a short-duration maximum, typically lasting seconds, covering transient loads such as vehicle acceleration. Both figures must have their conditions stated to be useful; peak current without a duration qualifier cannot be used for pack sizing.
Why does the operating voltage window on a VDA 355 datasheet matter for BMS configuration?
The BMS charge and discharge cut-off voltages must be set within the module's stated window, and the window can differ per temperature band. The 2P6S VDA 355 module, for example, has a lower limit of 16.5 V between 0 and 55 °C and 13.2 V between −30 and 0 °C. Always confirm whether the voltage window is temperature-qualified before programming cut-off thresholds.
What does UN 38.3 certification on a battery module datasheet cover?
UN 38.3, specified by UNECE, covers transport safety testing: altitude simulation, thermal cycling, vibration, shock, external short circuit, impact and overcharge. It is a prerequisite for shipping lithium batteries by air, sea or road. It does not certify the module's performance in a finished system or confirm compliance with end-use safety standards such as IEC 62619.
How do I calculate gravimetric energy density from a VDA 355 module datasheet?
Divide the module's energy in watt-hours by its mass in kilograms. The 2P6S VDA 355 module, for example, has 2.55 kWh (2,550 Wh) and weighs 12.2 kg, which gives 209 Wh/kg, the figure its datasheet states. Confirm that the energy figure and the weight figure both refer to the module alone, excluding external connectors or hardware not included in the supplied assembly.