
Environmental Passports for Cars Coming to Portugal and Europe
Starting soon, all cars sold in Portugal and across Europe will be required to have an environmental passport. This digital document, accessible via a QR code, will assign a unique identifier to each vehicle. For electric cars, it will provide detailed information on the entire battery life cycle.
The European Commission plans for this regulation to take effect within two years, aiming to create a transparent and secure system to reduce the environmental and social impacts associated with electric vehicle battery production. The initiative will track the environmental footprint of battery manufacturing, holding companies accountable for using eco-friendly methods. Those relying on more harmful extraction and production processes will face penalties.
The environmental passport will provide key details about the origin of the materials used in the battery, encouraging sustainable sourcing and revealing the supply chains involved. Information such as battery capacity (Ah), voltage ranges, power supply capacity (in watts), lifespan (in cycles), and temperature limits will also be included. Additionally, the document will cover the battery’s energy efficiency across various stages of its life cycle.
Although the requirement will not become mandatory until 2027, some manufacturers are already adopting the system. Volvo, for instance, has introduced a battery passport with its EX90 model, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. This feature will be gradually rolled out to other fully electric models. The digital passport will come in two versions: a simplified one for vehicle owners and a more detailed version for regulatory authorities.
From February 2027, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) will also apply to all new traction batteries, batteries for two-wheel vehicles, and industrial batteries with a capacity over 2 kWh sold within the European market.