At Minespider, we see that many of the top Digital Battery Passport (DBP) questions we get asked are technical - so we wanted to dive deep into technical implementation for Digital Battery Passports in our latest webinar.
Creating a Digital Battery Passports involves much more than collecting regulatory data and generating a QR code. The real challenge is bringing together information scattered across internal systems and supplier networks, deciding how that data will be updated, and building an infrastructure that can support batteries throughout their lifecycle.
As discussed by Minespider and PwC Germany during our webinar on Digital Battery Passports, getting these foundations right is essential to moving from initial implementation to production at scale.
Start with data mapping
Before choosing an integration method, companies need to understand what data they already have, where it lives and who is responsible for it.
Battery information may be spread across ERP, PLM, manufacturing systems, battery management systems and supplier spreadsheets. Some attributes may be readily available, while others require new processes to collect or maintain them.
“I see the Digital Product Passport as more of a supply chain traceability project than a compliance topic. You need to gather data across the value chain and, for batteries, across the entire lifecycle.”
- Husen Kapasi, Senior Manager at PwC Germany
A practical first step is to map each required attribute to its source, owner, format and update process. Where suppliers cannot provide data through APIs, we see that structured Excel or CSV templates can offer a workable alternative.
Choose an integration approach that fits your systems
Once data sources are mapped, teams can decide how information will flow into the passport.
Depending on existing IT infrastructure, this may involve APIs, structured file imports or a combination of these methods. The right approach depends on data availability, system complexity, update frequency and production volumes.
An integration also needs to account for differences across sites and suppliers. We see that a process that works in one location may need adjustments to support different systems or data formats elsewhere.
“Compliance tells us what the Digital Battery Passports must contain. Integration is what keeps the data flowing from the source systems into the passport throughout the battery’s lifecycle.”
- Hugo Abreu, Tech Lead at Minespider
The goal here is not simply to transfer data once. It is to establish a reliable process for creating passports, checking completeness and maintaining information over time.
Design identifiers and QR codes for the long term
The unique identifier connects a battery to its digital record, while the QR code provides access to that record. Decisions about both should be made early, especially when codes will be printed on products that remain in circulation for years.
Companies should consider who controls the URL behind the QR code. Using a manufacturer-controlled domain with a redirect can provide more flexibility if the passport provider changes. Provider-specific URLs may make future migrations more complicated.
Identifier design also needs to consider security. Predictable identifiers can make it easier to guess other records, so teams should assess how identifiers, URLs and access controls work together.
Plan for dynamic battery data
Some Digital Battery Passports information changes throughout a battery’s lifecycle. This can include state of health (SoH), state of charge (SoC) and capacity fade.
Not every dynamic data flow needs to be automated at the start. However, the initial architecture should account for where this information will come from and how it can be updated later. Relevant values may originate in a battery management system or be calculated by another system before being transferred to the passport.
Teams should also document the methods used to calculate derived values where relevant, particularly as approaches to measures such as state of health can differ.
In Minespider’s platform, changes to passport attributes can create a new passport version, while dynamic data can be updated without creating a new passport version for every update. This helps distinguish changes to the passport’s structure from ongoing lifecycle information.
Prepare for the EU Battery Passport Registry
The EU Battery Passport Registry is an important part of the implementation process, but its functionality and technical requirements may evolve as the system develops. Before setting up registration processes, companies should check the latest official guidance to confirm which features are available, what requirements apply, and how their chosen service provider will interact with the Registry.
The practical priority is to keep identifiers and passport data organized, clarify responsibilities for registration and ensure internal systems can adapt as the Registry develops.
Build for security and production scale
A working integration is only the beginning. At production scale, companies need processes for batch creation, data validation, failed transfers, retries, monitoring and ongoing updates.
Hosting and access control also require early consideration. Organizations need to decide between SaaS and self-hosted approaches where relevant, determine which information is public or permissioned, and establish how access and changes will be tracked.
The EU Battery Regulation also includes long-term passport availability obligations. Companies should assess how their chosen infrastructure will support availability, backups and recovery over time.
“It’s not just about putting a stamp on something that says that’s a QR code. It’s about getting the data from the different systems, putting it in one place and then putting it into the Battery Passport. That’s why it becomes more of a technical project rather than just a compliance exercise.”
- Nathan Williams, Founder & CEO of Minespider
For organizations operating across multiple sites and suppliers, a phased rollout can help establish the core process before expanding it. The architecture should be designed for realistic production volumes, not just a small number of initial passports.
Clarify responsibility for data and updates
Technology providers can supply the platform and support implementation, but they do not automatically take over the economic operator’s legal responsibilities under the applicable regulation.
Companies should define who provides each attribute, who maintains it and how updates are handled when a battery changes hands or enters another stage of its lifecycle.
Ownership transfers do not all have the same regulatory implications. Responsibilities depend on the parties’ roles and the circumstances, so companies should assess each situation against the applicable requirements.
Clear data ownership and operating processes help keep passport information complete and current after publication.
Minespider and PwC Germany's Managed Passport service
Implementing Digital Battery Passports involves more than choosing a platform. Companies must understand regulatory requirements, collect data across suppliers, connect existing systems and establish processes for maintaining passports over time.
Minespider and PwC Germany combine these capabilities through a joint managed service.
PwC Germany and Minespider combine implementation expertise with Digital Battery Passport technology. PwC Germany supports regulatory preparation, data readiness and rollout across countries and enterprise systems, while Minespider provides the platform and integration capabilities to create, manage and maintain passports within existing IT environments.
The Managed Passport service is designed for companies that need implementation expertise but may not have a dedicated in-house team. It can also help established teams expand across sites and supplier networks, bringing technology and ongoing support together to manage Digital Battery Passports at production scale.
A practical starting checklist
Before implementation, teams should be able to answer these questions:
- Data: Where does each required attribute come from, and who owns it?
- Integration: Will data move through APIs, structured files or a combination?
- Identifiers: Can the URL and QR code architecture be maintained over the battery’s lifetime?
- Lifecycle: How will dynamic data be sourced, updated and documented?
- Operations: Can the process handle production volumes, errors and multiple suppliers?
- Governance: Who is responsible for data quality, updates and regulatory obligations?
- Registry: Have the latest official technical requirements been checked?
Getting the Foundations Right
Implementing a Digital Battery Passport starts with understanding existing data and the systems that manage it. From there, companies can design the integration, identifier structure and operating processes needed to support the battery throughout its lifecycle.
The key is to plan beyond the initial publication. A useful Digital Battery Passports needs reliable data flows, clear ownership and an architecture that can adapt as requirements, systems and battery information evolve.
