The European Council approved the new battery regulation, marking a significant step towards sustainable electromobility in the EU. With the aim of introducing more robust measures for batteries and related waste, the regulation aims to ensure responsible management of the entire life cycle of accumulators, from the production process to reuse and recycling.
In the context of electromobility, batteries play an essential role, but this has a significant environmental impact which requires an appropriate approach.
The growth in demand for batteries is set to increase by at least tenfold compared to current levels: by 2030 there will be around 30 million zero-emission electric vehicles on the road in Europe, and the production and recycling of these new batteries will represent a challenge not indifferent from an environmental and social point of view, prompting the EU to formulate new legislation to replace the previous regulation of 2006.
The new regulation sets clear targets for the collection of waste batteries, with percentages increasing over time. For portable batteries, the collection target will be 63% by 2027 and 73% by 2030. Similarly, for batteries in light transport vehicles (such as scooters or electric bikes), the target will be respectively 51% by 2028 and 61% by 2031.
To reduce the environmental impact of batteries, the regulation also establishes minimum levels of materials to be recovered from battery waste, such as lithium and cobalt, which are essential for battery production. This will ensure that new batteries contain a significant proportion of these materials recovered from discarded batteries.
Another important aspect is the introduction of a carbon footprint label for batteries in electric vehicles, light commercial vehicles and industrial batteries. This will allow consumers to be informed about the environmental impact of each battery and will encourage the choice of batteries with responsible raw materials.
The regulation also places emphasis on simplifying the removal and replacement of batteries by encouraging the design of portable batteries integrated into appliances that can be easily removed and replaced by users. This will provide consumers with crucial information about battery capacity, performance, life and chemistry.
In conclusion, the new battery regulation marks a significant step towards sustainable and responsible electromobility. By tackling the environmental and social challenges associated with batteries and promoting responsible use of resources and recycling, we seek to build a solid foundation for the future of mobility. The electrification of transport has become a central element for a greener and more sustainable future mobility, with a growing presence of battery-powered devices. The regulation stands as a tool to direct the sector towards low environmental impact mobility, contributing to the pursuit of long-term sustainability objectives.
Lorenzo Nigro
For further informations:
Consiglio Europeo, via libera definitivo al regolamento sulle batterie (HDmotori)
Nuove regole dell'UE per batterie più sostenibili ed etiche (Attualità Parlamento europeo)
Read also:
New European Union Regulation proposal: focus on sustainable and recyclable batteries