Swedish car manufacturer Volvo claimed it launched the world’s first EV battery passport for its flagship EX90 SUV, soon to go into production. The passport will record the origins of raw materials, components, recycled content and carbon footprint of the cars, according to news outlet Reuters.
From 2027 all electric vehicles sold in the European Union will have to have a passport showing this information. Tesla and Audi have come up with prototypes but it is Volvo that has launched three years ahead of the regulations.
A QR Code on the inside of the driver’s door will allow Volvo owners to access a simplified version of the passport but a more complete version will be passed to regulators.
Future passports will also include update information on the EV battery’s health and cost Volvo approximately $10 per car for 15 years.
Volvo has chosen to partner with UK-based Circulor to produce the passport. The Circulor system can trace the battery materials from the mine to individual cars using block chain technology (piggybacking on suppliers’ production systems in order to track materials throughout the complete supply chain). It can check suppliers monthly energy bills and how much of the energy comes from renewable sources – or not – in order to calculate a total carbon footprint.
Jaguar and Land Rover have also invested in Circulor.
The EX90 SUV is hoped to become available to customers in Europe and North America towards the second half of this year.
Volvo’s head of global sustainability Vanessa Butani told Reuters that the passport will soon be available for all EVs made by the company. Butani said that Volvo wants to be more transparent with buyers as it moves towards it’s intended all-EV future. “It’s really important for us to be a Pioneer and a leader” she said.