News: The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is proposing a mandatory identification system for electric vehicle batteries through a unique 21-character “Battery Pack Aadhaar Number” (BPAN).
About Battery Pack Aadhaar Number (BPAN)
- Battery Pack Aadhaar Number (BPAN) is a 21-character unique number to be provided to each battery introduced in the market or used for self-consumption.
- Aim: It aimed at ensuring end-to-end traceability across the battery lifecycle.
- Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
- Under the proposed framework, every electric vehicle battery pack will be assigned a BPAN that will track it from the sourcing of raw materials and manufacturing through usage, repurposing and final disposal.
- Batteries covered: The proposed system will apply to batteries already governed under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022. These include:
- Electric vehicle batteries for L category vehicles
- Electric vehicle batteries for M and N category vehicles
- Industrial batteries with a capacity of more than 2kWh
- This ensures that both mobility-related and large-capacity batteries are covered under a single traceability framework.
- Information stored in BPAN: Each Battery Pack Aadhaar will store detailed technical and environmental data, including:
- Battery Manufacturer Identifier
- Battery Descriptor and Identifier details
- Battery material composition
- Battery carbon footprint
- Dynamic data related to battery performance and usage
- Information stored in BPAN: Each Battery Pack Aadhaar will store detailed technical and environmental data, including:
- Battery Manufacturer Identifier
- Battery Descriptor and Identifier details
- Battery material composition
- Battery carbon footprint
- Dynamic data related to battery performance and usage
- Significance
- The move is intended to bring greater transparency, accountability and sustainability to India’s rapidly expanding electric mobility ecosystem.
- It system will help address growing concerns around battery safety, environmental impact and improper disposal as EV adoption accelerates across the country.
- It will function as a digital identity for batteries, enabling regulators, manufacturers and recyclers to access verified information on origin, chemistry, ownership history and end-of-life status.
- The proposal also aligns with broader policy goals around circular economy practices and responsible resource management.
