What is a Battery Passport?
A battery passport is a digital dataset that consolidates the essential information about a battery across its entire lifecycle, from cell production to recycling. The EU Battery Regulation simply calls it an electronic record, and that is a good way to picture it: material composition, raw material origins, carbon footprint, performance metrics, and recyclability all sit in one standardized place. Whoever inspects, repairs, or recycles the battery later on does not have to piece the data together.
For structured capture of all mandatory data, DIN SPEC 99100 software provides a guided workflow based on the standard. For an overview of the practical implementation, see the battery passport software page.
The battery passport is not voluntary. It becomes mandatory for certain battery types under the EU Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542) and sits at the core of the European strategy for a sustainable, circular battery value chain.
Technically, the battery passport is based on DIN SPEC 99100, which defines a unified data structure with seven categories. The data is accessible via a QR code or a unique identifier such as the GS1 Digital Link, so authorities, recyclers, and other economic operators can pull up the information they need at any time.
Why is the Battery Passport being introduced?
Above all, the EU wants one thing from the battery passport: no battery should enter the market without verifiable data about what is in it and where it comes from. The market is growing fast on the back of electromobility and the energy transition, and with it grows the volume of cells that will come back for recycling in a few years. Whoever has to process them then will need today's data.
Specifically, the battery passport aims to:
- Create transparency: Manufacturers, importers, recyclers, and consumers can trace what a battery is made of, where the raw materials come from, and under what conditions it was produced.
- Promote sustainability: Mandatory documentation of the carbon footprint gives manufacturers a tangible incentive to make production 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.
So the battery passport goes beyond a data sheet. It is a tool of European industrial and climate policy, and it affects the entire value chain, from cell manufacturer to recycler.
Who needs a Battery Passport?
The EU Battery Regulation addresses all economic operators who place batteries on the EU market. That primarily means three groups:
- 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), for example 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 mandatory and optional fields that apply depending on 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 the raw materials and materials used: 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. Without this data, a circular economy cannot work.
6. Performance and Durability
Performance metrics such as rated capacity, energy density, charge cycles, internal resistance, and expected lifespan. They make battery quality measurable and products comparable.
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 complete picture of its ecological, social, and technical properties.
Not all of this data is publicly accessible. The EU Battery Regulation defines a three-tier access model that governs who can view which information. For details, see Battery Passport Data Access: What Becomes Public?.
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:
- 18 February 2025: Carbon footprint declaration mandatory for EV batteries (industrial batteries > 2 kWh from 18 February 2026)
- 18 August 2026: CO₂ performance classes for EV batteries, once the corresponding delegated act is in place (as of 4 August 2026 it has not been adopted); maximum CO₂ threshold from 18 February 2028
- 18 February 2027: Digital battery passport becomes mandatory for EV batteries, industrial batteries > 2 kWh, and LMT batteries
For manufacturers this means: preparation should begin now. Capturing and structuring the data takes time, especially when it has to be consolidated from various sources (ERP, PLM, suppliers).
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 runs through a guided interface in seven steps, without you having 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) 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 hold 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 do you close the gaps?
For a step-by-step walkthrough of all seven data categories, see How to Create a Battery Passport: 7-Step Guide. For typical implementation costs, see Battery Passport Costs.
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 lies with the economic operator, meaning the manufacturer, importer, or authorized representative. You can use software for creation and management, but the responsibility for the content 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, and the battery passport serves as the blueprint.
