Used Buyer Checklist for the Battery Passport Record

A used buyer checklist for the battery passport is a method for reading a record before purchase, in which each check is completed, dated and kept in the purchase file, so that a later reader can see what was checked and what was left unchecked. A checklist that is skimmed at the point of sale, without dates or evidence, gives a false sense of thoroughness, because the buyer remembers the impression of checking without the detail of what was found. The checklist in this guide is organised in the identity first order used across this cluster, so that identity, dates, status and performance are checked in sequence, and no later check is trusted until the earlier checks pass.

The scope is a used battery within Article 77, namely an electric vehicle battery, a light means of transport battery or an industrial battery over 2 kWh placed on the market or put into service from 18 February 2027. For batteries outside that duty, the checklist can still be used as a reading method for any voluntary record, with the passport specific items marked as not applicable. The position is stated as checked on 28 October 2026.

What identity checks belong on the checklist?

Identity checks belong first on the checklist, covering the unique battery identifier in the passport, the identifier associated with the physical battery, the model identifier, the category and the chemistry. Each identity item should be recorded as matched, mismatched or not available, with the evidence seen, rather than as a general impression that identity looked correct. A mismatch on any identity item pauses the checklist, because later items assume identity, and a buyer who continues past a mismatch without resolving it builds the rest of the purchase file on an uncertain foundation. The identity section should also record the date of the check and the documents seen, so that a later reader can distinguish a check that was done from a check that was assumed.

What date checks belong on the checklist?

Date checks belong second on the checklist, covering the date of first placing on the market, the dates of later entries, the date of the newest entry and any intervals with no entries. Each date should be copied from the record rather than paraphrased, and intervals should be measured and recorded, because a paraphrased date loses the precision that a later reader needs. The date section should end with a statement of the limit of the record, namely that the record describes the battery up to the newest entry date, and that anything after that date sits outside the record. A buyer who records that limit explicitly is less likely to overread a stale record as a present description.

What status and history checks belong on the checklist?

Status and history checks belong third on the checklist, covering the status entry, any change of status, any preparation for reuse or repurposing, any refurbishment or remanufacturing entry, and the preservation of earlier history after each change. The status section should record the status in the order shown in the record, with dates, so that a later reader can see whether the battery is shown as original or as having a later status, and whether the change was recorded as a new chapter in the same history. A status change without a work description should be flagged as an open question, and the buyer should ask for the description before treating the status as understood.

What does the checklist table look like?

The checklist table is the purchase file in miniature, with each row showing a check, the evidence required and the result recorded. The table below sets out the structure, using general check names rather than a claim about any particular battery. A completed version of the table, with dates and evidence, is the output of the checklist method.

What document checks belong on the checklist?

Document checks belong after the record checks, covering the invoice or contract for the last transfer, any state of health evaluation, any repair or refurbishment documentation, and any test report that the seller holds. Each document should be recorded by date, author and identifier, so that the document can be matched to the battery and to the record. A document that names a different identifier, or no identifier, should be flagged, because a document that cannot be matched to the battery adds little to the file. The document section should also record documents that were asked for but not produced, because an unproduced document is a fact about the file that a later reader needs to know.

What inspection and test checks belong alongside the record?

Inspection and test checks belong alongside the record, not instead of it, covering present physical state, damage, modification, fitment and a current test where the buyer commissions one. The inspection section should record the date, the person who inspected, and the findings in concrete terms, rather than a general statement that the battery looked acceptable. The test section should record the method, the date and the result, so that the test can be compared with the dated performance entries in the passport. A checklist that contains only record checks and no inspection or test checks is incomplete, because the record cannot answer present condition questions.

What limits apply to a checklist reading?

The limits are that a completed checklist is a reading record, not a warranty, not a test and not a valuation. This guide gives general educational information only and is not individual legal advice. A buyer with a specific purchase should check the Regulation text and any applicable national rules as checked on 28 October 2026 before acting.