Draft battery Aadhaar guidelines released for lifecycle traceability

India has taken a step towards creating a unified digital identification and traceability framework for batteries with the release of draft Guidelines for Implementation of Battery Pack Aadhaar System. The draft has been prepared by a committee constituted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and proposes a standardised digital record for tracking batteries across their entire lifecycle.

The proposed Battery Pack Aadhaar (BPAN) is designed as a unique digital identity for battery packs. Each battery will be assigned a 21 character alphanumeric code, supported by a QR code and a secure server based data layer. The system is intended to enable end to end traceability, covering raw material sourcing, manufacturing, usage, repurposing, and final recycling or disposal.

The draft guidelines initially focus on batteries used in Electric Vehicles (EVs), which represent the largest share of lithium ion battery demand in India. The framework is also proposed to apply to industrial batteries with a capacity above 2 kWh, as defined under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022. Starting, Lighting, Ignition (SLI) batteries and portable batteries are excluded from the current scope.

Under the proposal, the BPAN will capture information across six defined data categories. These include the Battery Manufacturer Identifier (BMI), which identifies the country and manufacturer, and the Battery Descriptor Section (BDS), which records parameters such as capacity, chemistry, and voltage. The Battery Identifier (BI) will function as a unique serial number linked to the date and location of manufacture. Additional sections include the Battery Material Composition Section (BMCS), Battery Carbon Footprint (BCF), and Battery Dynamic Data (BDD), which will track parameters such as State of Health (SoH) and usage status over time.

Access to data under the system will be provided through three channels. A visible alphanumeric code will be marked on the battery pack. A QR code will allow access to essential static information for recyclers and authorised entities. More detailed and dynamic data will be stored on a secure server and made available only to authorised stakeholders such as producers, service centres, and regulators.

The draft positions the Battery Aadhaar framework as a digital backbone to support regulatory mechanisms such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and policy initiatives including the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells. The design also seeks alignment with international frameworks such as the European Union Battery Passport, while accounting for the scale and cost conditions of the Indian market.

The committee has recommended that the framework be progressed through the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) route to enable structured stakeholder consultation and nationwide consistency. A phased rollout has been proposed, starting with basic identification data, followed by material composition and dynamic performance tracking, with carbon footprint reporting introduced at a later stage.

The committee tasked with developing these guidelines includes experts from IIT Hyderabad, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the Department of Science & Technology, and other relevant institutions.

The featured photograph is for representation only.