The EU battery passport, explained

What it is

The battery passport is an electronic record for one individual battery. It holds information about the battery model, such as chemistry, capacity and safety, and about that specific battery, such as its status and state of health. Article 77 of the EU Batteries Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, requires it.

Anyone can open the public part by scanning the QR code on the battery. Other parts are only for parties with a legitimate interest, such as repairers and recyclers, or for authorities.

Which batteries need one

From 18 February 2027, every battery in these three categories that is placed on the EU market needs its own passport:

• Batteries for light means of transport (LMT batteries): sealed batteries of 25 kg or less that drive e-bikes, e-scooters, e-mopeds and similar vehicles

• Industrial batteries with a capacity above 2 kWh, such as most home and business storage

• Electric-vehicle batteries, including packs above 25 kg in light vehicles

Portable and starter batteries don’t need a passport. From the same date, though, every battery needs a QR code; for those batteries it links to the label information and the declaration of conformity.

Who provides it

The company that places the battery on the EU market, meaning the first to make it available in the EU. In practice:

• the brand whose name or trademark is on the battery, even when a supplier designs or builds it

• the importer, for batteries or vehicles with batteries brought in from outside the EU

• the company that remanufactures or repurposes a battery and places it on the market again

That company may authorise another operator in writing to manage the passport for it, but it stays responsible for the information being accurate, complete and up to date.

What goes in it

The public part describes the battery model: manufacturer, category, chemistry, capacity, voltages, weight, hazardous substances, critical raw materials, extinguishing agent, expected lifetime and how the battery is collected at the end of its life. Parties with a legitimate interest also see the detailed composition, dismantling information and the state of health of the individual battery. Authorities see the test reports.

Some parts come later. For LMT batteries the carbon footprint applies from 18 August 2028 at the earliest, and recycled content documentation from 18 August 2033.

The European Commission’s guidance of August 2026 lists, data point by data point, what applies from 18 February 2027. It is not binding, but it is the clearest reading so far.

How it works in practice

• Every battery gets a unique identifier that follows the ISO/IEC 15459 series of standards

• A QR code on the battery links to that identifier and opens the passport

• The data is kept by the company responsible, or a service acting for it, in an open and machine-readable format

• The passport has to stay available even if that company stops trading, and ends only when the battery has been recycled

• The unique identifier is also registered in the EU registry for digital product passports

What to do now

• Work out which of your batteries reach the EU market from 18 February 2027

• Check whether you are the one responsible for their passports

• Ask your pack or cell supplier for the model data and test reports

• Decide how each battery gets its unique identifier and QR label

• Choose where the passports will live, and make sure they stay online