Transparency Redefined: The Revolutionary Impact of the Digital EU Product Passport on Automotive Manufacturing

In a world where sustainability is increasingly at the forefront of consumer consciousness, the announcement of the Digital EU Product Passport for Batteries marks a pivotal moment in automotive history. And leading the charge is the Volvo X90, proudly bearing the distinction of being the first all-electric car to feature a battery passport.

This ground breaking initiative, powered by Circulor, revolutionises the landscape of supply chain transparency within the automotive industry. The battery passport provides a wealth of crucial primary data regarding the battery's composition, components, recycled content and carbon emissions.

At the forefront of this transparency revolution is the Volvo X90, which stands as the inaugural SUV to integrate this unparalleled level of supply chain visibility as a standard feature for individual vehicles.

Accessible through the Volvo Cars app and a QR code located on the door frame, EX90 owners gain insights into:

• Material Traceability: Tracking the origin and production journey of critical raw materials like cobalt, nickel, graphite, and lithium.
• Embedded Carbon Footprint: Understanding the carbon impact of the entire battery pack.
• Recycled Content: Knowing the percentage of recycled material used in the battery.

Most recently, The Battery Pass consortium published a study titled ‘The Value of the EU Battery Passport,’ co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

This comprehensive analysis highlights that the additional availability of secondary active material in the EU market could increase recycling revenue by 5-15% and reduce carbon emissions associated with raw material extraction for EV batteries by 2-10%. Additionally, an initial quantification suggests that composition and dismantling data could reduce recycling costs for pre-processing and treatment by 10-20%, based on current generic recycling cost estimations for NMC batteries.

The integration of battery passports signifies more than just a technological advancement - it represents a fundamental shift towards transparency and accountability that will define the future of automotive manufacturing. Starting this year, Volvo EX90s are being delivered in the EU and US with battery passports, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Volvo Cars and Circulor since 2019.

For Recyclus Group, a leader in battery recycling, this milestone underscores the escalating significance of transparency and traceability within the battery value chain. Positioned at the forefront of this movement, Recyclus is equipped to support and thrive amidst these evolving regulatory mandates, championing a sustainable and circular economy.

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