Battery passports will become mandatory for any electric car sold in the EU from 2027. While the UK is no longer part of the Union, they will also be a feature on cars here, too.
Individual materials have been developed to mitigate the potential for thermal propagation, but — as with any non-cell material — incorporating them into EV battery construction diminishes the energy density of the pack.
As a result, designing an EV battery for extreme conditions tends to force a choice: opting for maximum energy density and performance or ensuring safety. This is the sort of trade-off no manufacturer should ever have to face.
To respond to the growing demands, the EU has adopted a New Battery Regulation in July 2023, which replaces the previous Battery Directive from 2006 (EU Battery Directive 2006/66/EC). We summarized the Directive and its key changes for you. REGULATION (EU) 2023/1542 of July 12, 2023 on batteries and waste batteries
The EU has already set specific targets in terms of recycling batteries, usage of recycled materials in batteries and a maximum battery carbon footprint threshold. All proposed to come into law over the next decade. To create the first battery passport, Volvo teamed up with UK tech startup, Circulor.
The “battle for the box” has kicked off a new wave of creativity among engineers and materials scientists. Roughly 80% of current EVs have an aluminum battery enclosure, but engineers are quick to note that the field is wide open for alternatives, based on vehicle type, duty cycles, volumes, and cost.