Volvo EX90 to come with industry-first “battery passport” tech

KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo has finally commenced production of the delayed EX90, with plans to initiate customer deliveries in Europe and North America in the second half of 2024. The upcoming Volvo EV marks the beginning of a new era for the automaker. Not only is it equipped with next-gen safety tech, driven by a wide suite of sensors, but it will also be the world's first EV to be offered with a battery passport, as reported by Reuters.

So, what is a Volvo battery passport?

The Volvo battery passport is a digital record for EV batteries, providing detailed information about their composition, material origins, recycled content, and carbon footprint. It is based on blockchain technology for secure and transparent tracking of the battery's supply chain, ensuring accurate and reliable information.

The battery passport will promote transparency in the supply chain by providing detailed information to car owners about the materials used in the battery, their origins, and the recycled content. The carbon footprint record will also help producers and consumers understand and reduce their environmental impact.

To develop this technology, Volvo partnered with Circulor, a UK-based startup. This industry-first system will be produced along with the EX90 at the brand's USA plant in South Carolina.

Reports confirmed that the battery passport tech will be compulsory for all EVs in the European Union from early 2027. "It's really important for us to be a pioneer and a leader," said Vanessa Butani, Volvo’s Head of Global Sustainability, as the regulation is only three years away.

The Swedish automaker will offer a simplified version of the battery passport to the EX90 buyers, which they will be able to access via a QR code placed on the inside of the driver's door. However, regulators and concerned authorities will get its complex version.

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