Automaker will use blockchain technology from British startup Circulor and beat EU rules by more than two years, report says
Through Chris Chilton
18 hours ago
- Volvo says it will introduce battery passports this year, becoming the first automaker to do so, the report said.
- Passports proving the origin of battery components will be mandatory in Europe from 2027.
- Volvo’s passport technology comes from British startup Circulor, which has received funding from the automaker and others including Jaguar Land Rover.
People can’t travel far into the world without showing a passport proving their identity and country of origin, and later this year Volvo’s EV batteries will be the first to get something similar.
Volvo is launching a passport scheme for the batteries of its South Carolina-built EX90 SUV, well before documentation becomes mandatory in Europe in February 2027, according to reports Reuters. The passport confirms the origin of the raw materials used in the battery, details of the recycled content and the environmental footprint.
Related: 2025 Volvo EX90 combines three-row electric power for $76,695
But the passport will also contain information about a battery’s health, which will give buyers peace of mind when the cars hit the second-hand market, and make it easier to assess the value of a used EV.
Owners will be able to access a basic version of the passport by scanning a QR code on the driver’s door, the report said, while a more detailed version will be handed over to authorities and will likely be accessible to dealers.
The technology behind the EX90 Passports, which Volvo says will eventually be rolled out across its entire EV range and will add $10 to the cost of a car, Reuters Reports, developed by British startup Circulor, makes it possible to trace battery materials from a car back to the mine from which they were dug.
It can even look across the supply chain and see how much of a supplier’s energy comes from renewable sources to calculate the total carbon footprint for the pack. Volvo has invested in Circulor, as has Jaguar Land Rover.
America hasn’t yet said it will require the same kind of passport system that the EU will require in 2027, but given the battery purchasing rules a car must now meet to qualify for EV subsidies, it seems likely that both car manufacturers and the government will soon see the benefit of introducing passports.
Volvo’s EX90 was due to go on sale in 2023, but the automaker postponed the launch by a year to resolve issues with its Lidar software. The three-row EV is now expected to reach dealers this fall.