EU mandates digital passport for EV batteries by 2027 to track carbon footprint and origin

The European Union will require a mandatory digital passport for all electric vehicle batteries sold in its market starting February 18, 2027. The passport will record each battery's identification, material composition, performance data, carbon footprint, and destination for reuse or recycling. The rule is part of the EU Battery Regulation that took effect in February 2024, which reorganizes production, collection, and recycling rules for the sector. This regulation aims to prevent EV batteries from becoming an environmental blind spot as adoption accelerates. By tracking carbon from extraction through disposal, the passport creates a transparent chain for automakers, suppliers, recyclers, and regulators. It also supports carbon accounting for battery manufacturing, which is a key input for lifecycle emissions calculations in the broader decarbonization of transport.