The introduction of the Digital Battery Passport (DBP) under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 marks one of the most significant structural shifts in Europe’s battery value chain. It states that from 18 February 2027, all electric vehicle batteries, light means of transport batteries, and industrial batteries above 2 kWh will require a machine-readable, interoperable, and accessible Digital Battery Passport, accessible via a unique identifier such as a QR code.
The Regulation makes clear that passport data must be transferable through an open data exchange network and must not be confined within proprietary systems.
However, turning regulatory intent into a reliable, cross-industry data exchange needs more than just attaching a QR code to a battery. The real challenge lies in building the technical, organisational and governance infrastructure that allows passport data to move reliably across manufacturers, suppliers, operators, repairers, recyclers and regulators. Delivering an interoperable Battery Passport ecosystem requires coordinated action across the entire industry.
Building Interoperable Battery Passport Data Models
The EU Battery Regulation requires that Digital Battery Passport data be structured, machine-readable and interoperable. In practice, this means that data on battery chemistry, material composition, performance characteristics, carbon footprint, safety documentation, and lifecycle events must be stored in standardised formats that different systems can interpret unambiguously.
Without harmonised data schemas, information risks becoming fragmented across incompatible databases. Manufacturers may structure carbon footprint data differently from recyclers. Integrators may categorise performance metrics using internal definitions that regulators cannot easily interpret. These inconsistencies increase compliance risk and operational inefficiency.
Academic and technical research into standardised battery passport data models emphasises the importance of organising techno-environmental information in structured formats aligned with regulatory requirements and lifecycle assessment methodologies.
For the industry, early participation in defining shared data taxonomies and schemas is critical. Agreeing on common definitions now will reduce the need for costly reformatting and translation when passport data must be exchanged across systems in 2027 and beyond.
Aligning with Open and Recognised Technical Standards
To enable seamless data exchange, the industry must align with recognised international technical standards for interoperability. The regulation already references ISO/IEC 15459 series standards for the unique identifiers linked to battery passports, but industry participation in developing and adopting broader data and interface standards is equally important.
Beyond identifiers, broader interoperability depends on alignment with recognised technical standards for data exchange, labelling and digital product information frameworks. The Battery Regulation sits within a wider European push towards Digital Product Passports and structured product data ecosystems. Industry initiatives such as Catena-X illustrate how shared technical infrastructure can enable interoperable digital product data exchange across supply chains.
International alignment reduces friction for companies operating across multiple markets. Without it, firms may be forced to build bespoke integrations for each jurisdiction or supply chain partner. For multinational battery manufacturers and system integrators, the cost of fragmented digital ecosystems could be high.
Ensuring Secure, Authenticated and Role-Based Data Access
Battery passport data will include commercially sensitive technical specifications, performance history and supply chain information. The Regulation requires data authenticity, integrity and protection against unauthorised access. Interoperability must therefore coexist with strong governance and security controls.
Industry must implement authentication mechanisms to verify that data entered into a passport originates from authorised sources and remains tamper-proof. At the same time, role-based access control is essential. Regulators, market surveillance authorities, independent repairers and recyclers will require access to specific categories of information, while proprietary design data may remain restricted.
Establishing robust governance frameworks will help balance transparency with confidentiality. Secure digital identity management, access logging and controlled data permissions are likely to become standard components of Digital Battery Passport infrastructure.
Enabling Lifecycle Updates and End-to-End Traceability
A Digital Battery Passport is not a static record created at the point of manufacture. The Regulation requires passport updates whenever significant lifecycle events occur, including reuse, repurposing, remanufacturing or recycling. In certain cases, a new passport may be created that remains digitally linked to previous records.
For seamless exchange, the industry must embed passport updates into operational workflows. This requires integration with Battery Management Systems, Manufacturing Execution Systems, Enterprise Resource Planning platforms and quality management systems. Manual data entry increases the risk of inconsistency and delays. Automated data capture and synchronisation ensure that lifecycle changes are accurately reflected across systems.
For example, when an industrial battery module is repurposed for stationary storage, the passport must reflect the updated configuration, performance metrics and new ownership information. If such changes are not synchronised across digital platforms, traceability breaks down, and compliance risks increase.
Strengthening Collaboration Across the Battery Value Chain
Seamless battery passport data exchange depends on collaboration across manufacturers, suppliers, integrators, operators, repairers and recyclers. A passport is only as reliable as the data entered throughout its lifecycle.
Upstream suppliers must provide verified information on material composition and provenance. Downstream operators must record performance data and maintenance events. Recyclers must update recovery and material output information. If any actor fails to provide accurate and timely data, interoperability suffers.
Industry associations and standards bodies can play an important role in facilitating shared data submission protocols and verification processes. Clear guidance and harmonised practices reduce duplication of effort and prevent bottlenecks in data flows.
Organisational Readiness and Digital Maturity
For many organisations, compliance with the Digital Battery Passport will require substantial digital transformation. Companies must assess whether their existing IT infrastructure can support machine-readable, interoperable and secure passport data exchange. They may need to invest in data management capabilities, staff training and governance structures to ensure accountability for data quality.
The European Commission has published detailed explanations of the Regulation’s transparency and traceability requirements, emphasising the need for structured digital data and QR-linked passport systems.
With the February 2027 compliance deadline approaching, companies that are starting to upgrade their systems and internal processes now will reduce implementation risk and avoid last-minute compliance pressures.
How Base Supports Interoperable Digital Battery Passport Exchange
At the BASE project, we view seamless Digital Battery Passport data exchange as foundational to achieving the objectives of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. Our Digital Battery Passport framework is designed to align with open standards, structured data models and secure governance requirements from the outset.
BASE focuses on interoperable data architecture that supports authenticated data input, structured lifecycle updates and controlled role-based access. Through pilot implementations across the battery value chain, we are demonstrating how DBP data can flow securely between manufacturers, operators and recyclers while maintaining compliance with EU regulatory expectations.
By testing real-world data exchange scenarios and collaborating with value chain partners, BASE contributes practical insights that help the industry prepare for 2027 and beyond. Our work supports not only compliance, but also the broader objective of enabling circular, transparent and digitally connected battery ecosystems across Europe.
Closing Thoughts
Seamless Digital Battery Passport data exchange requires more than regulatory awareness. It demands interoperable data models, alignment with recognised technical standards, secure authentication mechanisms, lifecycle integration and coordinated collaboration across the value chain.
As the 2027 compliance deadline approaches, the industry must move from policy interpretation to operational delivery. Organisations that invest early in digital maturity, governance and cross-system integration will be better positioned to meet regulatory requirements and to benefit from improved transparency, lifecycle traceability and circular value creation.
The BASE project has received funding from the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON) Research and Innovation Actions under grant agreement No. 101157200.
References
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 – Battery Passport technical and data requirements, EUR-Lex: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1542/2024-07-18/eng
A Standardized Data Model for the Battery Passport: Paving the Way for Sustainable Battery Management, ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827124000325?via%3Dihub
Catena-X Digital Product Passport interoperability use case, Catena-X: https://catena-x.net/use-case-cluster/digital-product-passport/
BASE Project – EU Battery Regulations and the Future of Battery Passports, BASE Project: https://base-batterypassport.com/blog/regulations-4/eu-battery-regulations-and-the-future-of-battery-passports-47
BASE Project – Why Definitions Matter: From Cells to Packs, Building a Shared Language for the Digital Battery Passport, BASE Project: https://base-batterypassport.com/blog/technology-7/why-definitions-matter-from-cells-to-packs-building-a-shared-language-for-the-digital-battery-passport-27