Volvo Cars to introduce EV ‘passport’ to track manufacturing materials

Battery passports will be mandatory for electric vehicles sold in the EU from February 2027 showing the composition of batteries, their carbon footprint, and recycled content

The EX90 SUV with a battery passport will be delivered to customers in Europe and North America from the second half of the year.

Chinese-owned Volvo Cars is launching the world's first EV battery passport recording the origins of raw materials, components, recycled content,  and carbon footprint for its flagship EX90 SUV which is about to start production, the Swedish automaker told Reuters.

The passport was developed by Volvo, which is owned by China's Geely, in partnership with British startup Circulor  — which uses blockchain technology to map supply chains for companies — and took over five years to develop.

Battery passports will be mandatory for electric vehicles (EVs) sold in the EU from February 2027 showing the composition of batteries — including the origin of key materials — their carbon footprint,  and recycled content.

Volvo's head of global sustainability Vanessa Butani told Reuters that introducing the passport nearly three years before regulations kick in was aimed at being transparent with car buyers, as the automaker targets producing only fully-electric cars by 2030.

"It's really important for us to be a pioneer and a leader," Ms Butani said.

The EX90 SUV, with a battery passport, is due to start production soon at Volvo's plant in Charleston, South Carolina, and will be delivered to customers in Europe and North America from the second half of the year.

Volvo owners can access a simplified version of the passport using a QR code on the inside of the driver's door.

Ms Butani said the passport would be gradually rolled out to all of Volvo's EVs.

• Reuters