As the EU’s new Battery Regulation approaches its enforcement date, the global new energy industry is undergoing a major digital transformation. Starting in 2026, all electric vehicle (EV) batteries, light‑mobility (LMT) batteries, and large industrial batteries entering the European market must carry a “battery passport” if their capacity exceeds 2 kWh. This requirement is pushing battery manufacturers worldwide to build full lifecycle data‑management systems—and creating strong new demand for RFID technology.
Battery Passport Prototype Debuts at Davos, Setting the Stage for Global Standards
The battery passport is not a new idea. The Global Battery Alliance(GBA) first introduced the concept in 2019 to improve transparency and sustainability across the global battery supply chain. After several years of development, GBA officially released the first battery passport proof-of-concept at the 2023 World Economic Forum in Davos.
The prototype includes complete lifecycle data for three different batteries, covering material sourcing, manufacturing processes, chemical composition, technical specifications, and carbon footprint. This marks an important step toward establishing unified global data standards for batteries.
At the China EV100 Battery Forum, industry expects noted that the battery passport is essentially a full lifecycle data-management system designed to bring greater transparency to the global battery value chain. They emphasized that the system focuses on two main pillars-quality management and carbon management-and both rely heavily on accurate and reliable data collection. With the EU’s regulation taking effect in 2026, the battery passport is quickly moving from concept to real-world implementation.
Booming Battery Demand Makes RFID a Core Enabling Technology
The power-battery market continues to grow rapidly. According to SNE Reasearch, global battery installations reached 517.9 GWh in 2022, up 71.8% year-on-year. Chinese companies hold six of the top ten positions, with a combined market share of 60.4%.
As the world’s largest battery supplier, CATL remains firmly in the lead. With the battery passport becoming mandatory, analysts expect the lithium-battery industry to generate:
- Tens of millions to billions of RFID tags every year
- A million-unit-level market for industrial RFID readers
RFID plays a critical role in battery production, including:
- Unique identification for cells, modules, and packs
- Real-time production tracking
- Fast quality-issue tracing
- Automated logistics identification
- Data binding for battery passports
RFID is becoming a foundational technology for digital battery manufacturing.
How RFID Is Actually Deployed in New Energy Applications
As the battery passport becomes a global requirement, the practical deployment of RFID has become a key industry topic. Experts explain that RFID is applied differently across various stages of battery and solar-cell production.
In power batteris:
- Cell level: Tags are placed on the side or end of the cell, away from heat and welding areas.
- Module level: Tags are attached to the module casing or end plaste, typically using anti-metal designs.
- Pack level: Tags are mounted on the pack housing or near service openings for easy after-sales scanning
In solar-cell manufacturing：
- Tags are not placed on the thin solar cells themselves.
- RFID is installed on module frames, junction-box housings, or production carriers.
- These tags support process tracking, quality monitoring, and automated equipment coordination.
By deploying RFID tags and readers at key points along the production line, manufacturers can achieve full visibility from raw-material intake to finished-product shipment-provding a reliable data foundation for battery pssports.
RFID Enhances Traceability in the Solar-Cell Manufacturing Chain
Solar-cell production involves more than ten complex steps, including water inspection, texturing, diffusion, coating, screen printing, and rapid firing. RFID enables:
- Real-time process-parameter collection
- Transparent production monitoring
- Automated equipment interaction
- Fast quality-issue tracing
China’s solar-cell output reached 318 GW in 2022. Based on an average module capacity of 300W, the industry generates hundreds of millions of RFID-tag demands each year, along with a million-unit market for industrial readrs.
Why RFID Is Better Suited for New Energy Manufacturing
Compared with barcodes and QR codes, RFID offers several advantages in demanding industrial environments:
- Long-distance, no-line-of-sight identification
- Ability to read through dust, oil and obstructions
- High-speed, multi-item scanning
- Large data-storage capacity-ideal for battery passports
- High durability in heat, chemicals, and harsh conditions
- Encryption and anti‑counterfeiting support
- Reusability, aligning with green‑manufacturing goals
These strengths make RFID one of the most promising identification technologies for the new energy sector.
Outlook: Policy and Market Forces Drive RFID Toward Rapid Growth
With global carbon‑neutrality goals advancing, the battery‑passport system taking effect, and new‑energy manufacturing expanding at scale, RFID adoption is entering a period of rapid acceleration.
In the coming years, RFID will continue to expand across:
- Power batteries
- Solar cells
- Energy‑storage systems
- Battery recycling
It will become a key enabler of full lifecycle management, smart manufacturing, and green supply chains.
Industry experts note that while RFID still needs improvements in durability and adaptation to complex environments, its market potential is already clear. Companies that can deliver reliable RFID solutions and strong customer support will be well‑positioned in the next wave of new‑energy innovation.