EU Battery New Regulations Interpretation Series - 1

I. Background of the Regulation The Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (the new EU Battery Regulation) was formally adopted on 10 July 2023 and entered into force on 17 August 2023, replacing the outdated Batteries Directive 2006/66/ECEUR-Lex. It is a core component of the European Green Deal, Circular Economy Action Plan, and European Industrial Strategy, aligned with the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal EUR-Lex.

Key Drivers for the New Regulation

1. Explosive Battery Demand: Batteries are critical for green mobility, clean energy, and climate neutrality. Global battery demand is projected to grow 14 times by 2030, with the EU accounting for ~17% of demand—creating urgent needs for sustainable supply chains European Commission.

2. Outdated Old Rules: The 2006 Directive failed to address modern challenges (e.g., EV boom, carbon footprint, raw material security) and lacked lifecycle-wide governance European Commission.

3. Circular Economy & Sustainability: The regulation aims to minimize environmental harm, cut carbon footprints, ensure ethical raw material sourcing, and boost reuse/recycling rates—decoupling growth from resource depletion EUR-Lex.

4. Strategic Autonomy: Reduce reliance on non-EU raw materials, build a competitive EU battery industry, and support the clean energy transition EUR-Lex.

II. Battery Definitions Under the Regulation The regulation applies to all batteries placed on the EU market (domestically produced or imported, standalone or integrated into products)

1. ‘battery’ means any device delivering electrical energy generated by direct conversion of chemical energy, having internal or external storage, and consisting of one or more non-rechargeable or rechargeable battery cells, modules or of packs of them, and includes a battery that has been subject to preparation for re-use, preparation for repurposing, repurposing or remanufacturing;

2. ‘battery pack’ means any set of battery cells or modules that are connected together or encapsulated within an outer casing, to form a complete unit which is not meant to be split up or opened by the end-user;

3. ‘battery module’ means any set of battery cells that are connected together or encapsulated within an outer casing to protect the cells against external impact, and which is meant to be used either alone or in combination with other modules;

4. ‘battery cell’ means the basic functional unit in a battery, composed of electrodes, electrolyte, container, terminals and, if applicable, separators, and containing the active materials the reaction of which generates electrical energy;

5. ‘portable battery’ means a battery that is sealed, weighs 5 kg or less, is not designed specifically for industrial use and is neither an electric vehicle battery, an LMT battery, nor an SLI battery;

1). weight limitation <5 kg;

2). The application cover all of the field that use the battery as the power, except the field of an electric vehicle, an light transport, and a starting, lighting and ignition.

3). High collection/recycling targets; ban on hazardous substances.

6. ‘light means of transport battery’ or ‘LMT battery’ means a battery that is sealed, weighs 25 kg or less and is specifically designed to provide electric power for the traction of wheeled vehicles that can be powered by an electric motor alone or by a combination of motor and human power, including type-approved vehicles of category L within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 43 ), and that is not an electric vehicle battery.

1), weight limitation ≤25 kg

2). The application cover the field of e-bikes, e-scooters, e-mopeds; EU Category L vehicles

3). Carbon footprint declaration and labeling mandatory European Parliament

7. ‘starting, lighting and ignition battery’ or ‘SLI battery’ means a battery that is specifically designed to supply electric power for starting, lighting, or ignition and that can also be used for auxiliary or backup purposes in vehicles, other means of transport or machinery.

1). No weight limitation

2). The application covers the field of vehicles, other means of transport or machinery.

3). Strict recycling for lead and hazardous materials

8. ‘industrial battery’ means a battery that is specifically designed for industrial uses, intended for industrial uses after having been subject to preparation for repurposing or repurposing, or any other battery that weighs more than 5 kg and that is neither an electric vehicle battery, an LMT battery, nor an SLI battery;

1). Weight limitation >5 kg

2). The application covers all of the industrial uses, except the field of an electric vehicle, an light transport, and a starting, lighting and ignition.

3). Lifecycle tracking; recycling targets for industrial chemistries

9. ‘electric vehicle battery’ means a battery that is specifically designed to provide electric power for traction in hybrid or electric vehicles of category L as provided for in Regulation (EU) No 168/2013, that weighs more than 25 kg, or a battery that is specifically designed to provide electric power for traction in hybrid or electric vehicles of categories M, N or O as provided for in Regulation (EU) 2018/858;

1). weight limitation >25 kg,

2). The application covers the traction of hybrid/electric vehicles (EU Categories L>25kg, M/N/O; e.g., passenger EVs, commercial EVs).

3). Strictest carbon footprint limits; battery passports required for >2kWh batteries (from 2026).