Battery Passports Around the World: Key Battery Regulatory Developments and Trends

As the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and sustainable energy storage rises, global regulations for battery transparency and traceability are evolving. The Battery Passport is emerging as a key regulatory tool to ensure responsible sourcing, lifecycle tracking, and compliance with environmental and ethical standards. This article provides an in-depth investigation into Battery Passport concepts worldwide, particularly in the top EV-producing regions: China, the EU, the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea.

European/EU Battery Regulation

The EU Battery Passport is a critical component of the EU Battery Regulation (Regulation 2023/1542), which is one of the first and most comprehensive regulations for batteries globally, and has been a cornerstone of the current EV industry regulatory changes. This regulation came into force on 17 August 2023 and is effective from February 18, 2024. It introduces requirements for all batteries sold in the EU, including electric vehicle (EV), industrial and LMT batteries.

With this regulation coming into force, a crucial new element appeared to better manage the battery and battery materials - a mandatory Digital Battery Passport (or Battery Passport). According to Chapter IX, Article 77, starting from 18 February 2027 any industrial battery with a capacity exceeding 2 kWh, and any LMT and EV battery placed on the EU market should have a Battery Passport. The Battery Passport is an electronic record that contains comprehensive information about a battery's materials, components, and lifecycle. Here is the data to be included in it:

• Identification: a unique serial number that is visibly marked on the battery.
• Basic Characteristics: production date, battery type and model, chemical composition, and intended use.
• Performance and Durability Statistics: information about  the battery's performance throughout its lifecycle, which must be updated by parties involved in repair or repurposing.

As described in the EV Battery Supply Chain Ebook, the regulation concerns all battery supply chain participants.

• Mining and Refining Companies: Entities involved in sourcing and processing raw materials for batteries
• Cell Producers: Companies that manufacture the individual cells used in batteries.
• Module Producers: Manufacturers that assemble cells into modules.
• Battery Producers: Firms that integrate modules into complete battery packs.
• Automotive OEMs: Original Equipment Manufacturers that produce electric vehicles.
• Battery Service Providers: Companies focused on refurbishing, servicing, and recycling batteries.

There are several EU initiatives working towards developing the Battery Passport according to all regulatory requirements.

• The Global Battery Alliance (GBA) together with the World Economic Forum, in their vision published in 2019, suggested that Battery Passport creation will help to create a circular battery supply chain. Since then, the GBA has led one of the initiatives to develop a prototype. In January 2023, the GBA presented the first proof-of-concept pilots. Since that time, the Global Battery Alliance has collaborated with industry leaders and the most innovative standards. In 2024, the GBA launched another round of battery passport pilots, this time focusing on gathering sustainability data. Ten pilot consortiums participated, including a collaboration between China’s PTL Group, battery passport & traceability provider Minespider, LCA consultancy, Minviro, battery producer Sunwoda, and the EV Manufacturer Li-auto.
• Battery Pass Project: funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, this project is focused on creating a proof of concept for a workable battery passport that aligns with EU regulations. It emphasizes collaboration with both European and international partners to ensure comprehensive standards and practices are developed.
• The Catena-X project does not aim to develop a product passport as such, but it is aiming to develop a trusted data space for the automotive sector, which will allow for entities to track materials along the value chain and share data with collaborators, all the while keeping control over whom they share the data with. 

Although there are several existing projects working on the Battery Passport prototypes, to date there is no complete Battery Passport that fulfills all requirements - most of them yet to be clarified by the Commission. 

United States Battery Regulation

Similar to the EU, the US introduced regulations that specifically target battery supply chain participants and require them to collect and disclose data about the battery and the battery materials it contains. An example is the US Inflation Reduction Act (or the IRA).

Under Section 45X, which focuses on the "Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit," and other provisions related to EV tax credits, EV battery producers have to prove the origin of the battery materials in order to get a 7,500 USD tax credit.

To qualify for the tax credit, the manufacturer has to ensure that:

• Minerals must be extracted or processed in the US or in a country with which the US has a free trade agreement.
• Alternatively, minerals can qualify if they are recycled within North America.
• The percentage of qualifying critical minerals will increase over time, starting from 40% in 2023 to 80% by 2027, and remaining at that level until 2029.
• Manufacturers need to evaluate their procurement chain for each critical mineral, ensuring that at least 50% of the added value comes from compliant sources.
• Components must be substantially manufactured or assembled in North America.
• Similar to critical minerals, the requirement starts at 50% and increases to 100% by 2029.

The incentive is already in force, with several EV models now  qualifying for tax credit, including the Tesla Model 3 Long Range, Tesla Model X 2025, Tesla Model Y, Chevrolet Blazer EV 2024, Chevrolet Equinox EV 2024, Ford F-150 Lightning 2022-2025, and others.

As of January 2025, there is no formal requirement for a Battery Passport in the US. Yet, efforts are underway to establish a framework similar to that of the European Union's Battery Regulation. Experts say that the US Battery Passport will be somewhat similar to the EU version, but not copy-pasted. Most likely it will contain elements of providence of the raw materials and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, as well as information on ESG and the CO2 footprint of manufacturing.

According to Brian A. Engle, President of NAATBatt and chair of the Battery Standards Steering Committee for SAE International (formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers), the US focus lies primarily in recovery of the critical raw materials in the battery cells themselves to recycle and reuse them in the region. “The US might build a global traceability index that we're going to build off the Providence carbon tracking and ESG requirements.”

United Kingdom Battery Regulation

Although the UK has left the EU, European regulations continue to influence the British market, especially given that the EU and the UK have many trade connections. The UK follows the common approach and emphasizes the importance of clean energy for the future. 

Some relevant existing regulations include:

• The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations (2009) mandate UK battery producers to register and label products, while promoting recycling and obliging retailers to offer battery disposal services.
• The End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulations (2003) require vehicle manufacturers to ensure de-pollution of vehicles, while also setting recycling and recovery targets.
• The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations (2013) mandate producers to fund the collection, treatment, and recycling of electronic waste.

The country aims to achieve a very ambitious goal and reach a zero emission vehicle transition by 2035. The regulatory environment surrounding batteries is rapidly changing to accommodate the evolving landscape and move towards this goal. As a result, the UK parliament is discussing necessary changes to current regulations in order to make sure they are in line with leading worldwide practices as well as industry dynamics. 

The UK’s Government is considering implementing certain elements of the EU regulation that can be adapted to the UK’s needs and circumstances. Besides that, it was discussed that UK regulations should follow the EU’s example around sustainable sourcing of raw materials, targets for recycled components in new batteries and sustainable manufacturing and disposal of EV batteries. The UK might create digital battery passports similar to the EU Battery Passports, which will aim to provide clear information on both supply chain due diligence and the carbon footprint of the battery, given the exposure of UK manufacturers to the EU markets.

Decisions haven't been made yet, but it’s highly likely that  the UK’s Battery Passport would become a significant regulatory requirement, mirroring similar initiatives in the European Union. 

Chinese Battery Regulation

China has a long history of regulating the EV battery supply chain. They introduced “Measures for the Comprehensive Utilization of Traction Batteries for New Energy Vehicles” published by The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of China. The document  laid down the requirement of establishing a national platform for EV batteries and related entities need to register batteries on that platform.

To date, China doesn't require a  Battery Passport, but their regulatory work started after the EU implemented their Battery Regulation. One of the examples is CATARC (China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd.) and the “China Battery ID Plan” led by it and funded by the Chinese government. Many companies are a part of this initiative.

One of the more interesting partnerships is the collaboration of ‍Shenzhen Precise Testing Technology Co., Ltd. (PTL), a Chinese national high-tech enterprise focused on batteries and the value chain, with EU-based startup Minespider who provides traceability and Battery Passports in the EU. Two companies aim to develop and publish the first Chinese battery passport guidance standard.

South Korean Battery Regulation

South Korea is among the countries actively developing a regulatory framework for electric vehicle (EV) battery traceability. These developments were sped up after a series of fires involving EVs. In late 2024, the government agreed to require automakers operating in the country to identify batteries used in their electric vehicles.

Starting from February 2025, South Korea will require the creation of a unique battery ID within the battery management system (BMS). This is part of a broader regulatory framework that mandates original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to disclose critical information about their batteries, including capacity, voltage ratings, and major ingredient compositions.

The automotive industry in South Korea is responding to these regulatory changes by beginning to identify their battery suppliers publicly. Major manufacturers like Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz are already disclosing their battery sources to comply with government mandates. 

Though there is no mandatory Battery Passport requirement, some companies have started early development of the concept. One of the examples is a  collaboration between Minespider and the South Korean decarbonization company Thingspire. Together they aim to create a regional version of the Battery Passport targeted at the Eastern Asian market and providing compliance with region-specific requirements.

The Future Outlook

The EU Battery Regulation has set a precedent for battery traceability and regulatory developments worldwide. Many countries, including the U.S., China, South Korea, and the UK, are either aligning with or developing similar Battery Passport frameworks to ensure transparency, responsible sourcing, and sustainability in the battery supply chain.

Regional initiatives will continue emerging, however, at a certain moment, governments will have to agree on a unified Battery Passport standard, ensuring seamless compliance, interoperability, and efficiency across markets.

A globally accepted framework would reduce regulatory burdens, streamline supply chain operations, and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and circular battery economy.