By Sergii Chernov / Shutterstock
The European Union's battery passport project is making progress, this time with the involvement of the automotive industry. The result is a list of data that will potentially form part of the passport, ensuring the traceability of batteries while providing information about their environmental credentials. A battery passport could be made compulsory for all new batteries in circulation in Europe from 2026.
The European Union's battery passport project is making progress, this time with the involvement of the automotive industry. The result is a list of data that will potentially form part of the passport, ensuring the traceability of batteries while providing information about their environmental credentials. A battery passport could be made compulsory for all new batteries in circulation in Europe from 2026.
The battery passport concept is evidently advancing, especially in light of the announcement made by the Global Battery Alliance (GBA) at the World Economic Forum in Davos. This organization, which brings together battery makers, automakers and technology companies, has just set out a basis of what this passport might involve. It is the result of nearly three years of work carried out through collaboration between the members of the GBA, all of whom are directly involved in the manufacture or use of these batteries, including Audi, Tesla, Volkswagen, BASF and CATL.
This passport proposal obviously includes technical data, starting with the date and place of manufacture of the battery, its energy (kWh), its capacity (Ah), the type and number of cells, and the technology used. Its life expectancy, estimated in number of cycles, should also be provided. In addition, the GBA wants to include the list of raw materials and the proportion of recycled materials used, as well as the country (or countries) of extraction. Finally, indicators are expected to show the level of respect for human rights and child labor standards in the manufacture of a battery, as well as its carbon footprint.
A battery passport is expected to be mandatory from January 1, 2026, for all electric cars and industrial batteries marketed in the European Union. It should be easily accessible online, using a QR code associated with each battery.
For the consumer, it will be a way to judge the quality of their battery. In addition, it will provide a clear picture of the market and the millions of batteries in circulation in the European Union.
