EV battery passport 2027: what does the QR code show and what is it good for when buying parts?

Two related EU developments make the topic relevant. Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries establishes the 2027 battery passport, and Regulation (EU) 2026/1738, announced on July 24, 2026, regulates the identification, removal and reuse of vehicles, electric motors and digitally coded parts with later deadlines. The two systems are connected, but they are not the same and do not start at the same time.

What started in July 2026 and what awaits until 2027?

Confirmed fact: the European Commission launched the Digital Product Passport Registry and its test environment on July 20, 2026. This register manages unique product identifiers and their associated basic data; the detailed product data remain decentralized, with the economic operator responsible for them. The functioning of the registry does not yet mean that the QR code of every modern car or battery leads to such a passport.

The legislative deadline is February 18, 2027. From that date, all electric vehicle batteries placed on the market or put into service in the EU must have an electronic battery passport. The obligation falls on the economic operator placing the battery on the market, not the supplier of the cell or the individual module.

• July 20, 2026: EU digital product passport register and test environment launched.
• 18 February 2027: Battery passport becomes mandatory for EV batteries newly placed on the market or put into service.
• The QR code leads to a unique identifier and the passport, but the range of data displayed depends on the user's access rights.
• The rule does not require automatic, retroactive passport creation for the original battery of a car put on the market before 2027.

What can anyone see after scanning the battery's QR code?

Annex XIII to the Regulation separates public data from restricted data. The public section supports battery-model identification and basic technical comparison. It includes, among other things, battery chemistry and material composition, rated capacity, minimum, nominal and maximum voltage, initial performance, expected cycle life and the test used to determine it, the capacity-fade threshold specified for an EV battery, and the commercial warranty period.

In addition, legally defined information on carbon footprint, recycled content and declaration of conformity will be made public. These are manufacturer supplied or compliance data. It is not an independent condition assessment and it is not a defect-free guarantee for a specific used battery.

Which important data will not be freely available to the public?

Some of the most interesting information for repair and residual value estimation will only be accessible on the basis of a proven legitimate interest. These include the detailed composition of the cathode, anode and electrolyte, the part number of the components and the source of the replacement parts, the disassembly sequence, the necessary tools and safety regulations. Specific battery health data such as health indicator, charge cycles, extreme events and operating temperature history are also limited.

An important limitation: simply scanning the QR code therefore does not necessarily show the complete status and event history of a used battery. Implementation rules for detailed access rights are still being developed in August 2026; the European Commission's own schedule also indicates that the given milestones are indicative.

How does the passport help with component compatibility?

Editor's note: uniform identification, chemistry, voltage, capacity and part numbers available to authorized professionals can reduce the risk of misidentification. This is especially valuable when there are multiple battery sizes, cell chemistries, connectors, cooling designs or software versions under the same model name. However, the passport is a data source, not an automatic compatibility license.

• The entire OEM part number and its possible newer or earlier version must match.
• Check voltage rating, chemistry, capacitance, physical mounting, connectors, and cooling.
• Compatibility of the vehicle controller, battery monitoring and software may require a separate investigation.
• The vehicle's full VIN and production date are still required for verification against the current OEM parts catalogue.
• Previous damage, soaking, overheating and repair history cannot be deduced from the model name or rated capacity alone.

From 2029, more data may also become available for digitally coded parts

The main requirements of the 2026 EU Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles apply from 1 September 2028, with further deadlines for component information. From 1 September 2029, manufacturers of newly type-approved vehicles must give repairers and other authorised professionals standardised, non-discriminatory access to the data needed to remove and replace EV batteries, electric motors and specified components.

For digitally coded parts, Annex VI to the Regulation lists the part number, location, access and replacement steps, the coding or software needed for activation, VIN unlocking, and information on interchangeability and compatibility with other variants. From 1 September 2032, vehicles placed on the market will receive a separate digital vehicle circularity passport that must also include the official parts catalogue.

This does not mean that from 2029 any removed controller or battery can simply be transferred to another car. More accessible manufacturer information may facilitate inspection, but vehicle safety requirements, software pairing, component condition and professional installation are still crucial.

What should you ask for when buying a used EV or battery?

For a battery first placed on the market after the 2027 deadline, check whether the passport requirement applies and whether the QR code leads to authentic data linked to the official registry. Do not install an unknown app or enter payment or personal information merely because a QR code appears on a battery. Compare the public passport data with the physical label, vehicle documents and current OEM parts catalogue.

• Ask for the vehicle's full VIN, production date and the exact powertrain version.
• Take a legible photo of the battery's complete data plate, OEM part number and, if available, its official QR code.
• Ask for a documented diagnostic condition assessment, because the public passport does not necessarily show the condition of the specific battery.
• Check the origin, damage and repair history, and whether the battery is original, reused or refurbished.
• A workshop qualified for high-voltage vehicles should give a written opinion on compatibility and safe installation.

What does the battery passport not solve?

The passport does not replace load testing, fault-code scanning, insulation testing, cooling-circuit inspection or an OEM compatibility check. Nor does it guarantee that every recorded field will be visible to every buyer. For pre-2027 batteries, the label, full part number, vehicle data, diagnostics and documented origin will remain the basis of identification for a long time.

The expected benefit of the regulation is a more transparent data connection and a better supply of information to professional actors. However, the actual market impact can only be judged by knowing the implementation rules, the manufacturer's data quality and the access practice. This is a conclusion, not a legally guaranteed result.

In short: more data, but still need professional verification

The 2027 battery passport is an important step in the identification of EV batteries: public QR data makes battery models more comparable, and authorized professionals can access more detailed part number, disassembly and condition data. Old stock does not change overnight, and replacement availability must still be verified against full vehicle and parts data.