Europe moves closer to implementing battery passports for EV batteries

Although the battery passport requires disclosure of basic as well as confidential inputs from battery material suppliers, refiners and recyclers, battery cell and module manufacturers, and vehicle manufacturers, implementing the concept as desired may face several challenges due to the sharing of business-sensitive information

The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union reached a provisional agreement on a proposal to strengthen the sustainability rules for batteries in December 2022. The Parliament and the Council said they are also open to further discussions on the new technological developments and future challenges pertaining to the batteries and battery materials. The negotiating representatives on both sides agreed that a carbon footprint declaration and label must be made mandatory for batteries powering electric vehicles (EVs) and light means of transport (LMT) such as electric two-wheelers, batteries used for starting, lighting and ignition (SLI batteries) in vehicles and machineries, as well as rechargeable industrial batteries with a capacity of more than 2 kWh.