Enhanced Transparency in the European Electric Vehicle Battery Sector through the Implementation of a Passport System
EU Introduces Digital Battery Passport for Improved Transparency
A new regulation, the EU Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542), is set to transform the battery industry with the introduction of a digital battery passport. The regulation, which comes into effect from August 2025, aims to improve transparency within the industry by providing essential information to recyclers, customers, and regulators.
The regulation categorises batteries into five distinct categories: Portable batteries, Industrial batteries, Light Means of Transport (LMT) batteries, Starting, Lighting and Ignition (SLI) batteries, and Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries. It also includes two subcategories within portable batteries: traditional portable batteries and portable batteries of general use [1][2][3].
The digital battery passport, linked to each battery via a QR code or engraved identifier, will include a unique product identifier for digital access, basic specifications, lifecycle data on performance, durability, repair, and repurposing, carbon footprint specific to the manufacturing site and batch, and technical documentation on electrochemical performance, durability, and data collection methods [4].
The regulation's key provisions, such as registration, take-back, disposal, and new battery categories, come into effect from 18 August 2025. The regulation establishes a phased implementation for the digital battery passport and other complex requirements, allowing the industry time to adapt IT systems, workflows, and third-party verification infrastructure [4].
Compliance with the regulation requires identifying the applicable battery category, mapping the regulation articles to specific battery types, selecting the correct conformity assessment module, engaging with a Notified Body where third-party verification for carbon footprint, recycled content, or due diligence is required, maintaining complete, consistent technical documentation, and ensuring internal alignment among stakeholders and supply chain partners [1][5].
The EU Battery Regulation uses open data formats to ensure security and transparency. In 2026, carbon footprint labels and data-access rules will be finalized under the regulation. The digital battery passport system does not repeat information about the safety and performance standards, carbon footprint reporting, ethical supply chain management, and labeling and data-access rules that became mandatory under the EU Battery Regulation in previous years [1][5].
The main purpose of the EU Battery Regulation is to improve transparency within the battery industry. The regulation will categorise information into three categories: public, restricted, and regulatory. Public data will include the battery type, its carbon footprint, and details about ethical sourcing. Restricted information will include repair and recycling instructions for service technicians and recycling facilities. Regulatory data will be accessible only to government agencies and will include compliance reports and test results [1][4].
The digital battery passport system does not mention any advertisements. The requirements of the law are being phased in over several years, with the regulation becoming active in August 2023. The battery passport system does not repeat information that the digital passports will become compulsory for entering the European market in 2027 [1][4].
New collection targets for portable batteries under the regulation are set at 45% by end of 2023, 63% by 2027, and 73% by 2030 [3]. The EU Battery Regulation is a significant step towards a more sustainable and transparent battery industry.
[1] The Battery Chronicle. (2023). EU Battery Regulation: What You Need to Know. [2] European Commission. (2023). EU Battery Regulation: Building a Sustainable Battery Value Chain. [3] European Parliament. (2023). EU Battery Regulation: A New Era for the Battery Industry. [4] European Commission. (2023). EU Battery Regulation: Digital Battery Passport. [5] European Commission. (2023). EU Battery Regulation: Compliance Requirements.
- The EU Battery Regulation, aimed at promoting transparency within the battery industry, also emphasizes the importance of environmental-science and policy-and-legislation in the digital age, as it introduces a digital battery passport for improved traceability of batteries and their impact on the environment.
- As technology advances in the battery industry, science and politics play significant roles in shaping regulations like the EU Battery Regulation, which targets various battery categories, including portable batteries of general use, and includes provisions for carbon footprint calculations and recycling efforts.
- The implementation of the EU Battery Regulation will influence the general-news landscape by driving deployments of digital solutions, promoting sustainable practices, and potentially altering the way batteries are produced, used, and disposed of, highlighting the intersection of science, technology, and policy-and-legislation in environmental-science and the broader economy.
