- Each Battery Passport is a digital twin of its physical battery that is activated through the Battery Passport digital platform
- The initiative is scheduled to start at the end of this year, and the passport contains various necessary information about the battery of an electric vehicle
Undoubtedly, electric cars are seen as a critical component in addressing the negative effects of climate change, but the rapid expansion of battery production has its own set of challenges, according to a report by the Global Battery Alliance (GBA). For this reason, the GBA launched an initiative called Battery Passport earlier this year during the World Economic Forum.
The initiative aims to ensure that the demand for electric vehicles is met responsibly and operated with sustainable batteries. Although GBA is made up of a range of actors in the value chain, from corporations to civil society to non-governmental organizations and governments, each has an important role to play.
Conceptual interfaces of Battery Passport for various interest groups. Source: World Economic Forum
The battery pass, according to Allianz, reflects this plurality and aims to align interests across the value chain by using a framework of pre-competitive engagement, collective incentives and accountability. To top it off, a Battery Passport builds trust in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments by transparently tracking and validating performance while protecting property interests.
According to ebikitips Report the program is slated to start late this year, while the trail started last year. It will allow users to verify the material origin, chemistry and identity of a battery and measure its sustainability and environmental impact.
Why is the GBA battery pass required?
First of all, most of today’s electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, which can store more energy in the same space than the older, more commonly used lead-acid battery technology. Currently 99% of the lead-acid batteries are recycled in the USA, in contrast to the estimated recycling rates for lithium-ion batteries, which are around 5%.
According to experts, in addition to other recyclable materials, old batteries also contain valuable metals that can be recovered and reused. Depending on the process used, battery recycling can also consume a lot of water or emit air pollutants. The battery pass will therefore align the transport and energy industries with the goals of the Paris Agreement by 2030.
In addition, according to GBA research, a circular battery value chain can enable the electricity and transportation sector to reduce emissions by almost a third (30%), which is necessary to meet the 2 ° C temperature target set in the Paris Agreement to which the European Union and 188 other countries have already committed.
“The development of the battery pass, based on the GBA guiding principles, is a positive step towards the creation of a sustainable battery value chain and helps batteries achieve their enormous potential,” said GBA.
How does the Battery Passport for electric cars work?
In principle, every Battery Passport will be a digital twin of its physical battery – made possible by the digital Battery Passport platform, which offers a global solution for the secure exchange of information and data. Via the platform, each battery receives its own identity or its own stamp that describes individual features in detail – information that the stakeholders in the value chain can access depending on their specific needs.
GBA said stakeholders will, at their own discretion, obtain the data to extend the life of batteries for electric vehicles, provide a safe second life, reduce recycling costs and ensure the recycling of batteries. Overall, governments and the public would be provided with the information necessary to show consistency with public goals.
“This platform aims to enable the power management of all batteries in the entire value chain of the industry in addition to the power management of just one battery. It is not a commercial product, but a means of building confidence that transactions meet all relevant requirements, ”said GBA.
With the Battery Passport, users receive transparency and the effect of the battery on their way to all relevant stakeholders in the battery value chain. It will also allow industry experts to provide a framework for benchmarking batteries by using criteria such as identifying the best and worst in their class and by providing minimum acceptable standards for sustainable and responsible battery development for electric cars.
In essence, the Passport will enable validation and progress tracking to pave the way for more resource efficient, sustainable and responsible battery production standards.
