Battery Passport 2027: What the EU Battery Passport means for the used car market

The battery passport is currently becoming one of the key issues in the European used car market. What was primarily a concern for experts just a short time ago is now increasingly becoming the focus of car dealerships, dealer associations, and consumers. 

The reason for this is clear: the number of used electric vehicles is rising significantly, particularly due to lease returns. And in the used car business in particular, the battery is the decisive value factor of an electric vehicle. 

Range, charging behavior, and remaining service life not only influence the price, but also the confidence of potential buyers. At the same time, there is a great deal of uncertainty in the market, as battery conditions have not yet been measured uniformly or communicated transparently. Different specifications, a lack of comparability, and technical detail make purchasing decisions difficult, not only for end customers but also for dealers.

Now, a binding, standardized framework is to be created that will bring transparency and trust: From February 18, 2027, the battery passport will be mandatory for the sale of used battery electric vehicles.

What is the battery passport?

The battery passport is a digital data record that structures and makes accessible key information about a traction battery. It is part of the EU Battery Regulation and aims to make the entire life cycle of a battery—from manufacture and use to reuse or recycling—more transparent. For the vehicle trade, one aspect is particularly important: objective and comprehensible insight into the technical condition of the battery.

At the heart of the concept is the digital battery passport, which can be accessed via a QR code and bundles both static and dynamic information. The static data includes information on the battery identity, manufacturer, chemical composition, nominal capacity, and performance and durability parameters. This information does not change during the battery's life cycle and forms the technical basis for its classification.

This information is supplemented by dynamic status data that reflects the actual aging and usage status of the battery. This includes, in particular, key figures such as the state of health, information on remaining capacity, expected service life, and usage-related loads. This data is generated during vehicle operation and is crucial for assessing the residual value of a battery in a used vehicle.

It is important to distinguish this from the solutions commonly used today: many vehicles already provide state-of-health reports from the battery management system. However, these are based on manufacturer-specific calculation methods and are neither uniformly defined nor comparable. This is where the EU battery passport comes in, providing a binding framework for which static and dynamic battery data must be provided in the future – and in what form it can be interpreted. In doing so, it creates a common data basis for manufacturers, dealers, and buyers for the first time.

When will the battery passport become a legal requirement for used electric vehicles?

On February 18, 2027, the battery passport will become a mandatory requirement for vehicle sales, rather than a voluntary piece of information. From this date onwards, used battery electric vehicles may only be placed on the market in the EU if a corresponding battery passport is available. The legal basis for this is the EU Battery Regulation, which for the first time defines clear requirements for the transparency and traceability of battery data.

It is particularly relevant for the trade that the legislator will not only become active in 2027. A transition phase has been underway since February 2025, during which manufacturers are being prepared for the new requirements. During this time, many vehicles have already been and are being technically equipped to record the necessary battery data. 

For dealers, this means that the battery passport will no longer be an optional extra, but an integral part of the vehicle documentation. At the same time, responsibility is shifting more towards the sales process. While manufacturers are responsible for collecting technical data, it is up to retailers to provide this information correctly and communicate it in a comprehensible manner.

This makes the battery passport comparable to familiar vehicle data in the used car business, but with a significantly greater impact on price, demand, and trust. Those who address the requirements early on can use the transition period to align processes, presentation, and consulting with the new standard.

Status quo: SoH data from the bms

Battery electric vehicles already provide a wealth of battery data. This is based on the battery management system (BMS), which monitors and evaluates relevant parameters throughout the entire vehicle operation. One of the best-known key figures is the state of health (SoH), which describes the current health status of the battery in simplified terms and is often expressed as a percentage value.

In practice, however, it quickly becomes apparent that these SoH values are only of limited significance. Although almost all manufacturers have integrated corresponding software into their vehicles, the underlying calculation methods differ considerably. Charging cycles, temperature histories, usage patterns, and safety reserves are weighted differently depending on the manufacturer. A SoH of 90 percent for brand A is therefore not necessarily comparable to a SoH of 90 percent for brand B.

This creates a structural problem for the used car trade. Although dealers have battery reports at their disposal, they are unable to assess their significance or explain them objectively to customers. At the same time, buyers lack the ability to meaningfully compare battery information from different vehicles. The transition from manufacturer-specific SoH evaluations to a uniform, comprehensible framework is therefore a key prerequisite for keeping the used car market for electric vehicles functional in the long term.

WHY THE EU BATTERY PASSPORT WILL CHANGE THE USED CAR MARKET

The battery passport also opens up new opportunities for dealers. Instead of individual reports that require explanation, a standardized information framework will be available in the future that can be integrated into consultations. This not only facilitates communication with customers, but also pricing and positioning of vehicles in the market. The battery passport thus evolves from a technical document to a relevant sales factor.

In the long term, the EU battery passport can thus help to professionalize the used car market for electric vehicles. Transparent battery data reduces uncertainty, increases comparability, and creates a common basis for manufacturers, dealers, and buyers. This is precisely where its potential for change lies—not as an additional obligation, but as a structural prerequisite for a functioning second-hand market.

BATTERY PASSPORT IN THE SALES PROCESS: VISIBILITY IS CRUCIAL

With the increasing relevance of the battery passport, a key question arises for retailers: How is the available information actually used in the sales process? Even standardized and valid battery data only reveals its value if it is made visible and understandable to customers. In many cases, a battery passport that is only available in digital form is not sufficient.

At the dealership, the purchase decision is still made at the vehicle. Prospective buyers compare prices, mileage, and equipment directly on site, often before they call up more detailed digital information. If the battery passport remains invisible at this point or is only discussed upon request, it loses much of its trust-building potential. Clear, proactive communication is crucial, especially for products that require explanation, such as used electric vehicles.

For dealers, this means that the battery passport must be integrated into the existing sales process without complicating it. Battery information should be available where other vehicle data relevant to the purchase is presented.

The way it's presented is super important. The goal isn't to go into technical detail, but to make it easy to understand and navigate. If the battery passport is clearly displayed, it can reduce uncertainty, cut down on questions, and boost confidence in the vehicle being offered.

HOW VISI ONE MAKES THE BATTERY PASS VISIBLE

This is exactly where VISI ONE comes in with a concrete solution that makes the battery passport visible directly at the POS.

VISI ONE has developed a new design for the analog VISI SALES price sheet holder, which is specifically designed to clearly display the battery passport or a corresponding battery certificate. This means that the battery passport is not only kept available digitally, but is also established as an integral part of vehicle communication – comparable to price, equipment, or mileage.

Especially in view of the mandatory EU battery passport from 2027, this form of labeling enables early preparation. Car dealerships can present battery information in a structured way, support consultations, and build trust even before the battery passport becomes a legal requirement.