On March 17, 2022, the European environment ministers in Brussels unanimously adopted the Council position on the EU Battery Regulation. The EU Parliament had already defined its position the week before with a large majority. Following the Environment Council's decision, a final agreement is to be reached in the so-called trilogue procedure between the EU member states, the EU Parliament and the EU Commission.
The regulation is intended to ensure a more sustainable use of batteries along the entire value chain throughout the EU. To this end, for example, the CO2 footprint of batteries for electric vehicles (traction batteries) and industrial batteries is to be reported. From 2031, the new battery regulation also provides for a recyclate use quota for large traction and industrial batteries.
In addition to minimum durability and performance requirements, easy removability and replaceability will also be ensured in the future. The draft stipulates that by 2024, portable batteries (e.g., in smartphones) and batteries for light transportation (e.g., e-bikes) with a lifespan shorter than that of the product must be designed in such a way that consumers and independent economic operators can easily and safely remove them themselves.
In the context of the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan and the new Industrial Strategy, the new regulations in battery law represent a major step in this direction.
Learn more around this topic in our webinar "New Battery Law and Draft EU Battery Regulation" on 10.05.2022 (in German language, link below).
