Volvo’s new EV has the world’s first ‘battery passport’ – here’s why that’s so important
Volvo becomes the first electric vehicle maker to offer a battery passport for its new $76,695 / £95,400 / AU$155.00 EX90 electric SUV, providing information on raw material components, amount of recycled material and total carbon emissions. footprint of the battery pack.
Similar to information from some fashion brands, such as Nudie Jeans and outdoor clothing specialist Rab, the Battery Passport is designed to create greater product transparency and inform the buyer of its sustainability credentials.
The passport was developed by Volvo, itself owned by the Chinese manufacturer Geely, with input from the British startup Circulor. According to ReutersCirculor uses blockchain technology to map supply chains for companies.
Volvo will gain a competitive advantage over its competitors as battery passports will become mandatory for electric vehicles sold in the European Union from February 2027, thanks to an initiative that aims to better understand the origins of key materials, their environmental footprint and recycled materials make content more transparent for both regulators and customers.
The first EX90 models with a battery passport will roll off Volvo’s new production line in Charleston, South Carolina, in the coming weeks, and will take the form of a QR code located in the driver’s door.
This will provide simplified information on the origin of the battery and its material composition, while a more complete version of the passport will be passed on to regulators, it said Reuters.
To make the system work, Circulor connects to the supply chain of each battery used, tracking its origins from the mining stage to completion. Additionally, it tracks suppliers’ monthly energy bills and calculates how much of their energy comes from renewable sources to calculate the total carbon footprint.
Additionally, scanning the QR code also provides up-to-date information about the health of the EV battery – although this is a diagnostic tool already available on some modern EVs.
Analysis: Greater transparency could be key
While the European Union has set a 2027 deadline that will ensure all new electric vehicles sold will have a battery passport, the US has yet to reveal whether it will follow suit.
That said, the US government has put increasing pressure on automakers to build and source materials for their electric vehicles domestically, with recent cuts in federal tax credits limiting the number of eligible electric vehicles to just a few.
The introduction of battery passports (and passports for all components, for that matter) could provide the kind of transparency that would make it easier for lawmakers to introduce new subsidies, which could in turn help accelerate electric vehicle adoption.
Similarly, US EV manufacturers will also be keen to prove the sustainability credentials of their electric vehicles so they can qualify for any subsidies available when sold in Europe.