New EU battery regulation passed 

In the future, the carbon footprint of batteries for electric vehicles and rechargeable industrial batteries will be reported. 

In further steps, the EU will introduce performance classes and limit values for these batteries. 

This is provided for in the new EU Battery Regulation, which was finally adopted by the EU Council of Ministers on July 10, 2023. 

In addition, a minimum amount of recycled lead, cobalt, lithium and nickel must be used in the new production of batteries for electric vehicles and industrial batteries from 2031.

The regulation also sets minimum durability and performance requirements for industrial batteries, batteries used in light transportation (LV batteries, e.g., in e-bikes), and general-purpose portable batteries.

A special innovation is the Digital Battery Passport: this is the first time that central product information along the life cycle of traction and industrial batteries has been digitally bundled and made available in one place.

Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke: "The Battery Regulation is a decisive step towards more recycling management in the EU internal market. 

Batteries are a key product for the energy transition and for achieving the EU climate targets. 

With the Battery Regulation, the European Union is focusing on the entire life cycle for the first time, and the sustainability of the manufacturing and waste phases 

will be considered together in the future. By increasingly recovering valuable resources from spent batteries, we are improving recycling and reducing mining in 

other parts of the world, which is sometimes harmful to the environment. The fact that environmental aspects must now be included is a real milestone."

With the decision in the General Affairs Council of the European Union, the EU Member States have approved the European Parliament's proposed amendments 

with regard to the new EU Battery Regulation. This concludes the legislative process at EU level and the regulation can enter into force. 

The regulation is intended to ensure the sustainable handling of batteries along the entire value chain throughout the EU.

In order to reduce the negative impact along the entire value chain, the CO2 footprint of electric vehicle batteries and rechargeable industrial batteries is to be reported in the future. 

From 2031, the new Battery Ordinance provides for a recyclate use quota for large electric vehicle batteries and industrial batteries. 

Also regulated is the interchangeability of portable batteries and LV batteries.

 For example, portable batteries are to be easily removed and replaced by the end user at any time during the life of the product. 

For LV batteries, the replacement of battery cells by independent experts shall be possible. 

In addition, there is an obligation to make batteries available as spare parts for at least five years. 

This is an important step towards extending the useful life of devices and strengthening the rights of consumers. 

The Battery Regulation also establishes environmental and social due diligence requirements for four key battery raw materials (lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite) for the first time. 

Under the BattVO, companies that introduce batteries to the EU market for the first time must ensure that high environmental and social standards are met along the supply chain 

of the battery raw materials used. Last but not least, the regulations on the collection and treatment of spent batteries will also be revised. In particular, ambitious collection and recycling targets are set.

The new regulation on batteries and spent batteries will replace the Battery Directive from 2006. 

The regulation, which will be directly applicable law in the member states, is expected to enter into force in July 2023. 

However, some regulations will still be subject to transitional periods until their final application.

Source: www.bmuv.de