Batteries

The EU’s push toward sustainability is transforming how batteries are manufactured, sold, and managed across their entire lifecycle. One of the most important changes is the introduction of Digital Product Passports DPPs for batteries.

From February 18, 2027, new rules under the EU Battery Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542) will require manufacturers, importers, and distributors of certain battery types to issue fully compliant digital passports. This affects a broad spectrum of industries across the European Economic Area (EEA) and is expected to become a global benchmark for sustainable product data.

This article covers the full scope of the requirements, impacted product segments, compliance details, and what is the easiest and most reliable way to get started.

What Is the Battery Passport?

The Battery Passport is a mandatory form of the EU Digital Product Passport (DPP), tailored specifically to batteries. Its purpose is to digitize essential data about each battery’s composition, lifecycle, environmental footprint, and sourcing. It will be attached to every qualifying battery via a scannable QR or NFC code.

The goal? Ensure traceability and transparency — and enable informed decisions about reuse, recycling, safety, and carbon impact.

The Battery Passport is intended to:

• Improve transparency for regulators, consumers, and recyclers
• Support sustainable battery production and responsible sourcing
• Enable traceability and circular economy practices

Who Must Comply?

The Battery Passport is required for any battery in these categories:

• Electric Vehicle Batteries (EVBs)
• Industrial batteries with a capacity greater than 2 kWh
• Light Means of Transport (LMT) batteries under 25 kg (e-bikes, scooters, etc.)

These batteries must include a compliant passport if placed on the EEA market on or after February 18, 2027. Older batteries placed on the market before that date are exempt.

Sub-Industries Impacted

Compliance affects a broad spectrum of sectors and actors across the supply chain:

Vehicle and Mobility Industries

• Electric vehicle manufacturers (cars, vans, buses, trucks)
• E-bike, e-scooter, and LMT brands
• Automotive battery pack assemblers
• Vehicle repair, diagnostics, and second-life vendors

Energy Storage and Industrial Systems

• Stationary and mobile battery storage system providers
• Manufacturers of industrial tools or systems using high-capacity batteries
• Robotics and warehouse automation

Battery and Component Supply Chain

• Cell manufacturers
• Module/pack assemblers
• Raw material refiners, smelters, and miners
• Battery Management System (BMS) vendors
• Recyclers, dismantlers, and logistics operators

Retail & Distribution

• Importers and distributors into the EU/EEA
• Online retailers shipping batteries to EU customers
• Fulfillment service providers (FSPs)

Battery Passport: A Gateway to Circularity

Getting battery passports right opens up real value:

• Boosts second-life applications (e.g., reuse in grid storage)
• Improves recycling with better traceability
• Enables due diligence audits from mine to module
• Empowers eco-conscious consumers
• Encourages supply chain transparency
• Supports interoperable circular business models
• Helps create a level playing field by rewarding sustainable practices

What Information Must Be Included?

The data requirements are defined in Annex XIII of the regulation and are expected to evolve with additional delegated acts. As of now, each passport must include:

1. General Information
   • Manufacturer name, contact details
   • Model ID, production batch, and date
   • Battery classification (EV, LMT, Industrial)
2. Materials and Components
   • Weight and type of materials used
   • Presence of critical or hazardous materials
   • Provenance of raw materials
3. Performance and Durability
   • Nominal and actual capacity
   • Cycle life and charging behavior
   • State of health and internal resistance
4. Carbon Footprint
   • Total lifecycle emissions (cradle-to-gate)
   • Footprint label (2025), performance class (2026)
   • Minimum thresholds (2028 onward)
5. Reusability and Recycling
   • Reuse, refurbishment, and repair potential
   • Instructions for safe dismantling
   • Percentage of recycled/recyclable materials
6. Safety and Handling
   • Instructions for safe use, transport, and disposal
   • Hazard warnings and regulatory labels
7. Access and Control
   • Open, publicly accessible data via QR/NFC
   • Role-based access for sensitive technical or proprietary data (future roadmap)

All data must be structured, machine-readable, and accessible digitally — no PDFs, spreadsheets, or attachments.

Compliance Timeline: Battery Passport Rollout

• Q1 2025 – European Commission adopts technical rules for format, access, and QR/NFC interoperability.
• Q4 2025 – National regulators begin education and enforcement preparation.
• 2026 – Pilot programs launch — early adopters gain insights and advantages.
• February 18, 2027 – Battery Passports are mandatory for new products sold in EU/EEA.

Batteries placed on the market before the deadline are exempt, but any new products after that date must comply.

You may find more detailed information on European Circular Economy Stakeholder.

Key Challenges for Industry

Insights from CEPS and other EU studies show that compliance isn’t just technical — it’s organizational. Common challenges include:

1. Data Fragmentation

Data needed for the passport — from material composition to emissions — often comes from multiple tiers of the supply chain, each with its own systems and standards.

2. Supplier Reluctance

Upstream suppliers are hesitant to share proprietary or sensitive data, which makes full transparency difficult — especially in global sourcing environments.

3. Responsibility Unclear

It’s not always clear who maintains or updates the passport once a battery is resold, repurposed, or integrated into a new product.

4. Carbon Footprint Complexity

There are still gaps in how to consistently measure and report emissions across production, logistics, and use.

5. Lack of Interoperability

With multiple DPP solutions emerging, interoperability and shared schemas are still lacking — a risk for vendors and regulators alike.

Why Use DPPA?

We built our platform to take the complexity out of compliance — while adding value to your battery supply chain.

• Compliance From Day One: Full support for EU Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, ESPR — aligned with both current and upcoming delegated acts.
• Data Submission Made Easy: Use spreadsheets or integrate your PIM system — no complex onboarding.
• Instant Code Generation: Every passport receives a secure digital ID, with core data embedded for offline access and detailed data hosted on our high-speed public lookup service.
• Secure and Reliable: Hosted in European Azure data centers with secure endpoints.
• Scalable MACH-Architecture: Built on a modern architecture to support millions of passports.
• Versioned, Exportable, and Yours: Every change is logged and archived. You can export any passport as structured JSON — no lock-in, no hidden formats.
• Transparent, Scalable Pricing: Metered billing that scales with your needs
• Zero Bureaucracy: No long contracts, no sales calls — work directly with experts

We make Battery Passport compliance a non-issue so you can focus on your core business. With DPPA, you’re not just checking a box — you’re adding value, transparency, and trust to your brand.

What’s in It for You?

• Meet regulatory deadlines — with full traceability and audit readiness
• Streamline internal operations — through centralized data management
• Reduce legal risk — by ensuring all required information is published correctly
• Enable new business models — including second-life, refurbishment, and recycling
• Build brand trust — by demonstrating transparency to consumers and authorities

Get Started Today

The Battery Passport requirement is no longer “what if” — it’s “how soon.”

We help manufacturers, assemblers, importers, and brands get compliant early — with the tools, infrastructure, and support to turn regulation into a competitive advantage.

Want to learn more? Visit our Academy or contact our team directly on contact@dppa.no.