What is a Battery Passport?
A battery passport is a digital dataset that consolidates all essential information about a battery throughout its entire lifecycle — from manufacturing through usage to recycling. It functions as a digital twin of the physical battery, making data on material composition, raw material origins, carbon footprint, performance metrics, and recyclability transparently and accessibly available in a standardized format.
The battery passport is not a voluntary instrument. It becomes mandatory for certain battery types under the EU Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542). It represents a central building block of the European strategy for a sustainable and circular value chain in the battery sector.
Technically, the battery passport is based on DIN SPEC 99100, which defines a unified data structure with seven categories. The data is made accessible via a QR code or unique identifier (e.g., GS1 Digital Link) — allowing authorities, recyclers, and other economic operators to access relevant information at any time.
Why is the Battery Passport being introduced?
The European Union pursues several goals simultaneously with the battery passport. At its core, it's about transparency, sustainability, and the circular economy in the growing battery market — a market that will gain massive importance in the coming years due to electromobility and the energy transition.
Specifically, the battery passport aims to:
- Create transparency: Manufacturers, importers, recyclers, and consumers should be able to trace what a battery is made of, where the raw materials come from, and under what conditions it was produced.
- Promote sustainability: Through mandatory documentation of the carbon footprint, manufacturers are incentivized to make their production processes more climate-friendly.
- Enable circular economy: With data on material composition and recyclability, recycling companies can process batteries more efficiently and recover valuable raw materials.
- Ensure responsible supply chains: The supply chain due diligence requirements ensure that raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel are sourced in compliance with human rights and environmental standards.
The battery passport is thus far more than a data sheet — it is an instrument of European industrial and climate policy that affects the entire value chain.
Who needs a Battery Passport?
The EU Battery Regulation addresses all economic operators who place batteries on the EU market. This primarily concerns:
- Manufacturers: Companies that produce batteries and offer them on the EU market under their own name.
- Importers: Companies that bring batteries from third countries into the EU.
- Authorized representatives: Companies authorized by non-European manufacturers to act on their behalf.
Not all battery types are equally affected. The battery passport requirement initially applies to:
- Traction batteries for electric vehicles (EV batteries)
- Industrial batteries with a capacity exceeding 2 kWh
- LMT batteries (Light Means of Transport) — e.g., for e-bikes and e-scooters
Portable batteries and starter batteries are currently exempt from the battery passport requirement but are subject to other provisions of the regulation such as labeling and collection targets. Whether your battery is affected and which deadlines apply, find out in detail at Battery Passport: When Is It Mandatory?.
What data does a Battery Passport contain?
The data structure of the battery passport is defined by DIN SPEC 99100 and comprises seven clearly delineated categories. Each category contains both mandatory and optional fields that may be relevant depending on the battery type and use case.
1. Identification and Product Data
Unique identification of the battery via standardized identifiers (e.g., GS1 Digital Link), information about the manufacturer, battery type, model, production date, and manufacturing facility. This category forms the foundation for traceability.
2. Materials and Composition
Detailed breakdown of raw materials and materials used — including cathode material, anode material, electrolyte, and casing. Origin information is required for critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese.
3. Carbon Footprint
The carbon footprint captures greenhouse gas emissions across the entire lifecycle — from raw material extraction through production to transport. The value is expressed in kg CO₂ equivalent per kWh and will be classified into performance classes in the future.
4. Supply Chain Due Diligence
Proof of compliance with supply chain due diligence obligations — particularly regarding human rights, working conditions, and environmental standards in raw material sourcing.
5. Circularity and Resource Efficiency
Information on recyclability, recycled content share, disassembly instructions, and expected lifespan. This data is crucial for the circular economy.
6. Performance and Durability
Performance metrics such as rated capacity, energy density, charge cycles, internal resistance, and expected lifespan. This data helps in assessing battery quality and comparing products.
7. Labeling and Conformity
Information on CE marking, EU declaration of conformity (as a manufacturer document), test reports, and relevant symbols. This category documents the regulatory conformity of the battery.
The seven data categories of DIN SPEC 99100 cover the entire lifecycle of a battery — from raw material extraction to recycling. Together, they form a comprehensive picture of the ecological, social, and technical properties.
When does the Battery Passport become mandatory?
The EU Battery Regulation provides for a phased timeline. The decisive date for the digital battery passport is February 18, 2027. From this date, certain battery types placed on the EU market must have a complete digital battery passport.
Timeline overview:
- August 2025: Mandatory carbon footprint declaration for EV and industrial batteries > 2 kWh
- February 2027: Digital battery passport becomes mandatory for EV batteries, industrial batteries > 2 kWh, and LMT batteries
- August 2028: CO₂ performance classes and thresholds take effect
For manufacturers, this means: preparation should begin now. Data capture and structuring is a process that takes time — especially when data from various sources (ERP, PLM, suppliers) needs to be consolidated.
How to create a Battery Passport
Creating a battery passport requires a structured approach. There are essentially three paths:
Option 1: In-house development
Large corporations with their own IT departments can implement the DIN SPEC 99100 data structure themselves. However, this requires deep understanding of the specification, custom JSON schema validation, and infrastructure for hosting the data. The effort typically amounts to several months of development time.
Option 2: Specialized software
Specialized SaaS tools like DPP Hero provide the DIN SPEC 99100 data structure out of the box. Data entry is done through an intuitive user interface in seven steps — without needing to deal with the technical schema yourself. PDF export, JSON export, and QR code generation are typically integrated.
Option 3: System integration via API
For companies with large product portfolios, programmatic integration via a REST API is the most efficient path. Existing systems (ERP, PLM, MES) can transfer data directly to the battery passport software — via bulk import or single-product API.
Regardless of the chosen path: start with the data you already have. Most companies already possess a significant portion of the required information in their existing systems. The first step is taking stock — what data is available, what's missing, and how can the gaps be closed?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the battery passport apply to portable batteries?
No, under the current regulation, portable batteries (e.g., in smartphones, laptops) are exempt from the battery passport requirement. The obligation initially applies to EV batteries, industrial batteries above 2 kWh, and LMT batteries. An extension to additional battery types is possible in later phases.
What happens if I don't have a battery passport?
Batteries without a valid digital battery passport may not be placed on the EU market after the deadline of February 18, 2027. This means: no sales, no imports, no market introduction. Specific sanctions will be determined by individual EU member states but may include fines and sales bans.
Do I have to create the battery passport myself or are there service providers?
The responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the data in the battery passport lies with the economic operator — i.e., the manufacturer, importer, or authorized representative. You can use software tools for creation and management, but the content responsibility remains with you.
How does the battery passport relate to the Digital Product Passport (DPP)?
The battery passport is the first concrete implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) under the EU strategy. The European Commission plans to gradually introduce digital product passports for additional product categories — textiles, electronics, and construction materials are next on the list. The battery passport serves as the blueprint.