Volvo introduces the world’s first battery passport, stepping up sustainable transparency

• Volvo introduces world’s first “battery passport” for its EX90 SUV.
• The digital document uses blockchain to track the origin and environmental impact of the car’s battery.
• Available to both consumers (highlights) and regulators (detailed data), it could influence future EV regulations and resale values.

Volvo pioneers the battery passport, getting ahead of incoming regulations

This digital document will be available for the upcoming EX90 SUV. It dives deep into the car’s battery, providing a detailed report card on its environmental footprint.

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Developed alongside UK startup Circulor, the passport leverages blockchain technology to explain the battery’s origins. The passport documents everything from raw materials like cobalt and lithium to recycled content and component makeup. Therefore, the passport allows eco-conscious car buyers to make informed decisions. 

The European Union is poised to make battery passports mandatory for all EVs sold in the region by February 2027. Clearly, Volvo has gotten ahead of the curve.

The information will be accessible to all owners.

A user-friendly version of the passport, highlighting key details like material origin and carbon footprint, can be found within the Volvo Cars app. Regulators, however, will receive a more in-depth version. This includes data on the battery’s health for the next 15 years. That data could be crucial for determining the resale value of used EVs.

Volvo had to revamp its manufacturing processes to meticulously track parts and ensure their origins could be verified. However, the potential rewards are significant. The passports could play a vital role in the US, where EV subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act might hinge on similar data collection.

With the EU regulation coming up, and the potential for similar requirements elsewhere, other automakers will have their own projects underway. Volvo’s leadership in battery passports gives the company a leg-up, as well as providing additional data which will help to structure their approach going forward.