The new EU battery regulation is an important step towards a more sustainable and competitive battery economy. The regulation sets new requirements for battery design, manufacture, labelling, recycling and reporting. The regulation applies to all batteries imported into or used in the EU, including portable, industrial and automotive batteries. Companies that use batteries must be aware of their obligations and understand how to ensure their partners comply with the regulations. 

The regulation lays down mandatory requirements for all batteries placed on the EU market (except for military, space, and nuclear purposes). Those requirements cover sustainability and safety, labelling, marking and information, due diligence, waste battery management, battery passport, green public procurement, etc. The regulation specifies obligations of the manufacturer, importer and distributor of batteries and products containing batteries, also establishes conformity assessment procedure and market surveillance requirements. Manufacturers of cells, modules, battery packs, energy storage system, EV battery systems and end products shall pay high attention to the regulation. 

The regulation aims to promote the longevity, safety, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness of batteries. The regulation also seeks to reduce the environmental and health hazards caused by batteries and to promote the circular economy and material efficiency of batteries. The regulation supports the EU’s Green Deal and climate objectives. 

Timeline of EU Battery Regulations Implementation:

July 28, 2023: Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union

August 17, 2023: Official enforcement of the Battery Regulations

February 18, 2024: Mandatory enforcement of the Battery Regulations

August 18, 2024: Mandatory enforcement of safety requirements for stationary battery energy storage systems, performance and durability requirements for rechargeable industrial batteries with a capacity greater than 2 kWh, LMT batteries and electric vehicle batteries, conformity assessment procedures, and economic operator obligations

February 18, 2025: Mandatory enforcement of carbon footprint requirements for electric vehicle batteries

August 18, 2025: Mandatory enforcement of supply chain due diligence / Mandatory enforcement of waste battery management

February 18, 2026: Mandatory enforcement of carbon footprint requirements for rechargeable industrial batteries

February 18, 2027: Mandatory enforcement of battery passports for rechargeable industrial batteries larger than 2Kwh and electric vehicle batteries / Removability and replaceability of portable batteries and LMT batteries

August 18, 2028: Mandatory enforcement of requirements for recycled materials in rechargeable industrial batteries with a capacity greater than 2kWh, except those with exclusively external storage, electric vehicle batteries and SLI batteries, conformity assessment procedures, and economic operator obligations.

 From August 18^th 2024, several new requirements will come into force:

• The manufacturer must affix the CE marking to each battery.
• The manufacturer must draw up an EU declaration of conformity for each battery model.
• The manufacturer must draw up certain technical documentation.
• The manufacturer shall operate an approved quality system for the production, inspection and testing of the finished product and shall be subject to surveillance. This applies only to some types of batteries.
• The manufacturer must ensure the battery has clear, understandable, legible instructions and safety information.
• The manufacturer shall indicate on the battery his name, registered trade name or registered trademark, postal address with a single point of contact and, if possible, his website and email address.
• The manufacturer must ensure that batteries bear the model identifier and a batch or serial number, product number or other identifier.

To hear about the latest regulations and innovations concerning the battery manufacturing industry and how to adapt your gigafactory, attend the Innovatrix 2nd Battery Gigafactory Summit USA: Advances in Planning, Engineering and Operations taking place in Nashville, Tennessee, on November 13–14, 2024. 

For more information, visit our website or email us at info@innovatrix.eu for the event agenda.