Volvo is once again pioneering another EV related innovation with this battery passport
Volvo Cars announces the debut of the world’s first EV battery passport, which meticulously documents the lineage of raw materials, components, recycled content, and carbon footprint for its forthcoming flagship EX90 SUV, ahead of the EU rules.
Crafted over a span of more than five years, this groundbreaking passport was engineered by Volvo, under the ownership of China’s Geely, in collaboration with the UK-based startup Circulor. Leveraging blockchain technology, Circulor specialises in mapping intricate supply chains for enterprises.
Moreover, EU regulations slated for February 2027 mandate battery passports for all electric vehicles (EVs) sold within its bounds. These passports will delineate the battery’s composition, encompassing crucial details such as material provenance, carbon footprint, and recycled content.
Vanessa Butani, Volvo’s head of global sustainability, emphasised the company’s proactive stance in unveiling the passport nearly three years ahead of regulatory enforcement. This proactive approach underscores Volvo’s commitment to transparency as it sets its sights on producing exclusively electric vehicles by 2030.
Scheduled for imminent production at Volvo’s Charleston, South Carolina plant, the EX90 SUV is also equipped with a battery passport and is slated for distribution to European and North American customers in the latter half of the year.
On top of that, Volvo car owners will gain access to an abridged version of the passport through a QR code located inside the driver’s door. Gradual integration of the passport across Volvo’s entire EV lineup is envisioned, with a comprehensive iteration earmarked for regulatory submission.
The enhanced passport will provide real-time updates on the battery’s health, crucial for assessing the residual value of used EVs, over a 15-year period. Circulor CEO Douglas Johnson-Poensgen revealed that the implementation cost per car for Volvo is estimated at approximately USD10 (roughly RM47).
Circulor’s intricate system meticulously traces battery materials from the point of extraction to individual vehicle assembly, seamlessly integrating with suppliers’ production systems to monitor material flow and gauge carbon footprint through analysis of renewable energy usage.
This innovative endeavour has prompted Volvo to revamp its parts tracing mechanisms within its manufacturing processes, meticulously tracing the lineage of every component in each vehicle. While not mandated in the United States, automakers are increasingly intrigued due to potential eligibility requirements for EV subsidies under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act.
We got all this from Reuters and their full article is linked here. Thank you Reuters for the information and images.
