EV battery passport scope

The EV battery passport applies to each EV battery placed on the market or put into service from 18 February 2027, under Article 77 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. The passport is an electronic record for the individual battery, not a model datasheet, and it must be accessible through a QR code linked to a unique identifier. Batteries that fall outside the definition, or that were placed on the market before the application date, follow different rules, and the record must state the scope decision for each model.

EV battery passport scope means the set of batteries that must have a passport under Article 77, judged by category, weight, vehicle type, and placing date. The scope is each individual EV battery placed on the market or put into service from 18 February 2027.

How is the EV category decided?

EV battery passport scope applies to that category, and the record should state the vehicle category, the weight basis, and the reason the battery falls inside the definition. Articles 3 and 77 is the operative provision for the point in question, and Annex XIII sets the passport content where a passport applies. A vehicle manufacturer deciding passport scope for a traction battery range should not assume that a traction battery for another vehicle type follows the same entry. A traction battery weighing 40 kg for a category M vehicle should be recorded as in scope, with the weight basis and vehicle category stated, while a small auxiliary battery in the same vehicle should be assessed separately under its own category.

How are model and individual layers kept separate?

For EV battery passport scope, the record should keep the two layers separate, with a link from the individual record to the model record. The category decision, weight record, and placing date record for a model value should name the test or calculation method and the date, while evidence for an individual value should name the measurement, the date, and the source system, such as the battery management system. The 25 kg weight limit is part of the EV battery definition, and the record should state how weight was measured and whether the battery system, pack, or module weight was used, with the definition followed.

How are performance values stated?

For EV battery passport scope, a capacity value, a power value, a cycle life value, or a capacity retention value should state the test conditions, the reference temperature, the charge and discharge rates, and the end point used. A vehicle manufacturer deciding passport scope for a traction battery range should record which requirement applies to the EV battery in question and which requirement does not, with the article reference. A traction battery weighing 40 kg for a category M vehicle should be recorded as in scope, with the weight basis and vehicle category stated, while a small auxiliary battery in the same vehicle should be assessed separately under its own category.

How is use phase information recorded?

For EV battery passport scope, state of health, cycle count, temperature history, and fault history, where recorded, should be tied to the unique identifier and dated, so a later reader can see the sequence. The category decision, weight record, and placing date record should include the data extraction date and the version of the software or method used, where that information is available. The 25 kg weight limit is part of the EV battery definition, and the record should state how weight was measured and whether the battery system, pack, or module weight was used, with the definition followed.

How are repair and second life operations distinguished?

For EV battery passport scope, the record should name the operation, the operator who carried it out, the date, the parts changed, and the tests applied after the operation. A vehicle manufacturer deciding passport scope for a traction battery range should check whether a new passport, a linked passport, or an updated passport is required for the operation, and should record the reasoning. A traction battery weighing 40 kg for a category M vehicle should be recorded as in scope, with the weight basis and vehicle category stated, while a small auxiliary battery in the same vehicle should be assessed separately under its own category.

How is access and handover handled?

For EV battery passport scope, the passport access rules in Article 77 set different levels for the public, for persons with a legitimate interest, and for authorities and notified bodies, and the record should not promise wider access than the Regulation allows. The 25 kg weight limit is part of the EV battery definition, and the record should state how weight was measured and whether the battery system, pack, or module weight was used, with the definition followed. A vehicle manufacturer deciding passport scope for a traction battery range should retain the handover record with the identifier, so a later dispute can be traced to a dated transfer.

How is scope decided for a borderline traction battery?

A borderline decision starts with the facts: the vehicle category, the traction function, the weight, and the placing date. A worked decision for a light vehicle battery weighing close to 25 kg shows the weight measurement, the basis, the vehicle category, and the definition applied, with the decision and the decision maker. If the weight is measured with and without the enclosure, both figures are recorded, and the definition basis is stated. A battery that is close to the line is decided on the measured figure and the definition, not on the sales description, and the decision is filed with the model record, so a later model with the same facts receives the same decision.

Scope is decided model by model, and a range level assumption that every traction battery is in scope will misclassify the batteries at the edges.