A method to measure the dynamic-performance of sodium/nickel chloride research cells under various dynamic load profiles, such as the Simplified Federal Urban Driving Schedule (SFUDS) has been described. The dynamic performance of various Na/NiCl2 research cells is measured in various power profiles in which the duration, intensity, and ratios of the power levels (mW/cm(2)) in the SFUDS-like profiles are varied. Performance parameters such as area-specific impedance and specific-area energy are obtained by discharging these cells under actual conditions that exist in the full-size battery during the intended applications. The performance parameters measured by this method are employed in relatively simple scale-up calculations to project performances of full-size battery. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.