Volvo Cars is launching the world's first EV battery passport, Reuters is reporting. Starting in February 2027, these passports will be mandatory for electric vehicles sold in the European Union, showing the composition of batteries, including the origin of key materials, their carbon footprint and recycled content. The company’s head of global sustainability told Reuters they’re trying to get ahead of regulation in an effort at being transparent with car buyers. The automaker is targeting 2030 to produce only fully-electric cars.
If you’re looking for more context on this matter, please consider John Helveston, an assistant professor of engineering management and systems engineering at the George Washington University. He is interested in understanding the factors that shape technological change, with a particular focus on transitioning to more sustainable and energy-saving technologies. Within this, he studies consumer preferences and market demand for new technologies as well as relationships between innovation, industry structure, and technology policy. He has explored these themes in the context of China’s rapidly developing electric vehicle industry. Helveston has published a number of studies on the mileage, resale value and incentives of buying electric vehicles.
He can discuss the importance of these passports for meeting regulatory requirements for things like qualifying for subsidies as well as future regulations over carbon emissions and whether such a standard could be adopted by other countries too.
If you would like to speak with Prof. Helveston, please contact GW Senior Media Relations Specialist Cate Douglass at [email protected].
-GW-
