A new EU battery regulation, Regulation 2023/1542, was recently approved, and it will not only replace Battery Directive 2006/66/EC but also introduce requirements in many new areas of sustainability and safety of batteries and battery-operated products.
These include performance and durability requirements for industrial batteries, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and light means of transport (LMT) batteries; safety standards for stationary battery energy storage systems (SBESS); and information requirements on SOH and expected lifetime.
Battery cells or battery modules made available for end use without further incorporation or assembly into larger battery packs or batteries will be regarded as batteries under the regulation, subject to the requirements for the most similar battery category.
Performance and Durability Requirements (Article 10) Article 10 of the regulation mandates that from 18 August 2024, rechargeable industrial batteries with a capacity exceeding 2 kWh, LMT batteries, and EV batteries must be accompanied by detailed technical documentation.
The EU Battery Regulation will supersede the Battery Directive 2006/66/EC by 18 August 2025, signifying a crucial advancement in regulatory enforcement. Unlike directives, which necessitate incorporation into national laws, regulations are directly enforceable across all member states. Which Battery Types are Covered in the Battery Regulation?
The Regulation mandates minimum recycled content requirements for industrial batteries with a capacity greater than 2 kWh, excluding those with exclusively external storage, EV batteries, and SLI batteries. The minimum percentage shares of the recycled content are as follows: