New EU Battery Regulation is getting closer

Probably in March the EU Parliament decide on the new Battery Regulation 

At the end of 2020, the EU Commission presented proposals for new rules for batteries in the EU (as we reported in our Insight).  Soon, the Commission’s text with amendments may be adopted by the EU Parliament. This would finally give the industry the clarity about what to prepare for (a transition period of four years will be probably given to implement all the requirements). 

The draft Regulation concerns sustainability, safety, labelling and information requirements for the placing on the Union market of batteries as well as due diligence requirements for economic operators and requirements for the end-of-life treatment of waste batteries. 

The product requirements concern specifically: 

– restrictions of hazardous substances (all batteries) 

– reporting 

– maximum level of carbon footprint over the life cycle (electric vehicle and industrial batteries) 

– minimum level of recycled cobalt, lead, lithium and nickel (automotive, electric vehicle and industrial batteries) 

– performance and durability (portable, electric vehicle and industrial batteries) 

– removability and replaceability (portable batteries) 

– safety (stationary battery energy storage systems) 

– labelling (all batteries) 

– information on the state of health and expected lifetime (electric vehicle and industrial batteries) 

– battery passport (electric vehicle and industrial batteries) 

In addition, the scope of the new Battery Regulation will be extended to batteries for e-bikes and e-scooters.  Moreover, the so-called due dilligence for battery production should also apply.  As a result, multinational companies must therefore ensure that human rights and environmental protection regulations are respected throughout their supply chain.