JIS D5301: The Japanese Automotive Battery Standard
JIS D5301 is the Japanese standard behind every battery label in the JIS world — the N-series truck codes, the B/D passenger-car sizes, and the CCA figures that Asian suppliers print. Its one structural quirk shapes the entire Asian battery trade: it tests CCA at −15°C, warmer than the −18°C used by SAE and EN.
The −15°C difference, explained
SAE J537 and EN 50342 both cold-soak the battery to −18°C before the cranking test. JIS D5301 uses −15°C. Three degrees sounds trivial, but at the bottom of the electrolyte's working range it moves the printed number noticeably — the whole reason a "600 CCA (JIS)" battery and a "540 CCA (EN)" battery can be the same physical unit.
The honest way to read two labels: compare JIS to JIS and EN to EN. There is no fixed conversion factor — the gap depends on the battery's construction. The full temperature ladder and the DIN case (9.0V cut-off, prints lower still) are in what CCA is and CCA vs CA vs MCA.
The N-series: heavy-duty codes that track capacity
| JIS code | Case alias | Typical capacity | Typical CCA (JIS) | Typical duty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N70 | 65G24 | ~70 Ah | ~700 A | Cars, light trucks |
| N100 | 95E41 | ~100 Ah | ~800 A | Trucks, buses |
| N120 | 115F51 | ~120 Ah | ~900 A | Trucks, buses |
| N150 | 145G51 | ~135 Ah | ~900 A | Heavy trucks |
| N200 | 190H52 | ~200 Ah | ~1100 A | Heavy trucks, machinery |
Typical values per the World Battery Hub data section; a specific datasheet wins. For the N70↔N100 step-up in detail, see N70 vs N100 and the truck battery guide.
JIS terminals and group naming
JIS batteries use type A pencil terminals — thin, tapered posts noticeably narrower than the SAE posts on BCI groups — with type B variants on some sizes. The terminals matter in two directions: JIS cables clamp loosely onto SAE posts, and SAE clamps sit loose on JIS posts, so cross-substitution usually needs adapters or new clamps. See battery terminal types for the SAE/JIS/stud/side landscape.
Passenger-car JIS codes work differently from the N-series: codes like 55B24 and 75D23 encode the performance class (B, D, E…) and the case footprint, not the capacity directly. That is why a JIS label needs its group-size cross-reference read properly — the code is a class, not a dimension, and buyers who treat it as one end up with the wrong tray fit.
Where JIS D5301 sits in the world
JIS D5301 is the reference for the Japanese domestic market and much of Asia — Japanese OEM fitments, Korean and Japanese aftermarket lines, and a large share of batteries exported from Asian manufacturers. It exists in parallel with Korea's equivalent sizing habits and the BCI system used in North America, which is why an Asian export catalogue often prints two CCA columns — JIS and SAE/EN — for the same battery. The cross-reference discipline for buyers is covered in the JIS/DIN/BCI spec comparison guide.
Key takeaways
- JIS D5301 is Japan's automotive lead-acid standard — N-series heavy-duty codes, B/D passenger codes, JIS type A terminals.
- Its CCA test runs at −15°C, warmer than SAE/EN (−18°C), so JIS figures read higher for the same battery.
- N-series numbers track capacity (N70 ≈ 70 Ah, N200 ≈ 200 Ah); passenger codes are performance-class + case codes.
- Never convert JIS CCA to SAE/EN CCA with a fixed multiplier — compare within one standard.
What procurement buyers should check
- When a supplier quotes CCA, does it state "JIS D5301 (−15°C)" or is a JIS figure being presented as if it were SAE/EN?
- Is the JIS group code plus its case alias (N70/65G24, N100/95E41) both on the datasheet and the pallet label?
- Are JIS type A terminals acceptable for the fleet, or do SAE-clamped vehicles need adapters — a hidden fitting cost?
- Does the quotation compare JIS-rated batteries like for like with EN/SAE-rated ones, or mix standards across lines?
- For bulk Asian sourcing, is the CCA standard discrepancy flagged in the contract and verified by batch testing?
Frequently asked questions
Why do JIS D5301 CCA numbers read higher than SAE or EN?
Temperature. JIS D5301 measures cold cranking amps at −15°C, while SAE J537 and EN 50342 test at −18°C. A warmer test prints a higher number for the same physical battery, so a JIS-rated battery is not "stronger" — it was tested warmer. There is no universal conversion factor.
What are the N-series codes in JIS D5301?
The N-series is JIS D5301's heavy-duty battery class, where the number roughly tracks the 20-hour capacity: N70 ≈ 70 Ah, N100 ≈ 100 Ah, N120 ≈ 120 Ah, N150 ≈ 135 Ah, N200 ≈ 200 Ah. Labels also carry case-size aliases such as 65G24 (N70) and 95E41 (N100) used in Asian parts catalogues.
What terminals do JIS batteries use?
JIS type A pencil terminals — thin tapered posts, narrower than the SAE posts used on BCI-group batteries — plus JIS type B variations. The terminals are why a JIS battery often needs post adapters to fit SAE-style cable clamps, and why the terminal type must be checked before cross-substitution.
Is JIS D5301 the same as the Korean battery sizing system?
Not identical. Korean aftermarket batteries broadly follow JIS-style sizing habits and often print both JIS and SAE/EN ratings, but the formal standard for Korea is separate. For cross-border buying, treat each label's stated standard as the authority for its own numbers.
Sources
Cross-verified from the standard's published scope and the entity references on the World Battery Hub data section; where sources differ on fine detail, the difference is flagged rather than silently resolved.
- JIS D5301 — Japanese automotive lead-acid battery standard; N-series codes, terminals, CCA at −15°C.
- Testing hub — JIS D5301 reference page.
- World Battery Hub data section — N100, N150, N200 group pages.
- Manufacturer datasheets (GS Yuasa, Panasonic, AtlasBX, Rocket) — JIS group dimensions, capacities and dual-standard CCA printing.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-22