The Batteries Regulation covers batteries manufactured or imported for sale in the EU. In this guide, we list some of the battery types covered by the Batteries Regulation, such as portable batteries, SLI batteries, LMT batteries, and other batteries.
Product List Creation Methodology
We list batteries that are mentioned in the Batteries Regulation and referred to in standards under the regulation that we found searching on the CENELEC website.
Note that the standards presented in this guide have yet to be published, and these have not yet been harmonised under the regulation. To be confirmed as a harmonised standard, the standard should be referenced in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).
However, it is stated on each of the cited standards on CENELEC that a citation in the OJEU for the regulation is expected.
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Which products are covered by the Batteries Regulation?
The Batteries Regulation essentially covers all batteries, as explained in Article 1(3) below:
3. This Regulation applies to all categories of batteries, namely portable batteries, starting, lighting and ignition batteries (SLI batteries), light means of transport batteries (LMT batteries), electric vehicle batteries and industrial batteries, regardless of their shape, volume, weight, design, material composition, chemistry, use or purpose. It shall also apply to batteries that are incorporated into or added to products or that are specifically designed to be incorporated into or added to products.
Additionally, the regulation and applicable harmonised standards contain specific requirements for the different categories of batteries.
The regulation names various categories of batteries it covers, including those in or designed for certain products.
Portable batteries
The Regulation applies to portable batteries. These are batteries that are sealed and weigh 5 kg or less. The definition does not cover portable batteries that are designed specifically for industrial use.
In addition to the common requirements affecting all batteries, the Regulation requires producers of portable batteries to:
a. Establish or appoint a producer responsibility organisation which has a waste portable battery take-back and collection system
b. Report to the relevant competent authority information concerning the portable batteries and waste batteries
c. Adhere to the additional substance restrictions in Annex I
d. Bear a label containing information on their capacity (if rechargeable)
e. Bear a label containing information on their minimum average duration for its uses and indicate ‘non-rechargeable’ (if non-rechargeable)
f. Portable battery for general use, excluding button cell batteries, must meet performance and durability requirements in Annex III
Examples
Portable batteries for general use are defined as being interoperable and that have one of the common formats mentioned in the Regulation. Here are some examples:
- D batteries
- Button cells
- AAA Batteries
- AA batteries
EN standards
prEN IEC 60086-1 – Primary batteries – Part 1: General
prEN IEC 60086-2-1 – Primary batteries – Part 2-1: Physical and electrical specifications of batteries with aqueous electrolyte
prEN IEC 60086-2-2 – Primary batteries – Part 2-2: Physical and electrical specifications of lithium batteries
Starting, lighting and ignition batteries (SLI batteries)
SLI batteries are made to supply electric power for starting, lighting, or ignition and can be used for auxiliary or backup purposes in vehicles, other means of transport or machinery.
The regulation contains specific requirements for SLI batteries such as:
a. Documentation that must accompany SLI batteries containing cobalt, lead, lithium or nickel (e.g. percentage share of the substances in active materials).
b. Technical documentation concerning recycled content of SLI batteries containing cobalt, lead, lithium or nickel in active materials
c. A label containing information on their capacity
d. Collection of waste SLI batteries requirements
e. Reporting requirements related to SLI batteries and waste batteries
Examples
The Regulation does not mention any specific product examples.
EN standards
We could not find a harmonised standard that mentioned SLI batteries on CENELEC.
Light means of transport batteries (LMT batteries)
LMT batteries are defined as batteries that are sealed, weigh 25 kg or less and are specifically designed to provide electric power for the traction of wheeled vehicles. The regulation contains specific requirements for LMT batteries, including requirements relating to the:
a. Carbon footprint declaration
b. Recycled content for LMT batteries that contain cobalt, lead, lithium or nickel in active materials
c. Documentation containing information on the battery’s electrochemical performance and durability parameters
d. Label containing information on their capacity
e. Battery passport
f. Information on the state of health and expected lifetime
g. Collection of waste LMT batteries
Examples
- Batteries for L-category vehicles with traction battery
- Batteries for Electric bicycles
- Batteries for Electric scooters
EN standards
prEN 50XXX – Performance and durability of Light Means of Transport (LMT) batteries
Electric vehicle batteries
These batteries are designed to provide electric power for traction in certain hybrid or electric vehicles. The regulation contains specific requirements for these batteries, including the following:
a. Carbon footprint declaration
b. Recycled content for batteries that contain cobalt, lead, lithium or nickel in active materials
c. Documentation on the electrochemical performance and durability of the battery
d. Battery passport
e. Information on the state of health and expected lifetime
f. Collection of waste electric vehicle batteries
Examples
Examples of electric vehicle batteries include:
- Batteries weighing more than 25 KG for hybrid or electric vehicles of category L
- Batteries for hybrid or electric vehicles of categories M, N or O
EN standards
prEN 18060 – Road vehicles – Rechargeable batteries with internal energy storage – Performance of alkali-Ion (Li-Ion, Na-Ion), Pb, NiMH and combined chemistries EV modules and batteries
prEN 18061 – Road vehicles — Electrically propelled vehicles — Steps, conditions and protocols for the safe repair and re-use of modules and batteries originally designed for EV applications
Industrial batteries
Industrial batteries are defined as batteries designed or intended for industrial uses, or any other battery that weighs more than 5 kg.
The regulation sets specific requirements for industrial batteries, including the following:
a. Carbon footprint declaration
b. Recycled content for industrial batteries containing cobalt, lead, lithium or nickel in active materials
c. Documentation on performance and durability requirements for rechargeable industrial batteries
d. Battery passport
e. Collection of waste industrial batteries
Examples
The regulation only mentions stationary battery energy storage systems, under this category.
EN standards
We could not find a harmonised standard that mentioned industrial batteries on CENELEC.
Batteries that are incorporated into or added to products
This regulation also applies to batteries that are contained in products or that are designed to be incorporated into or added to products. For portable batteries and LMT batteries, Article 11 of the regulation requires such batteries to be:
a. Readily removable and replaceable
b. Accompanied by instructions and safety information on the use, removal and replacement of the batteries
This requirement only applies to entire batteries. It does not apply to single cells or other parts.
We could not find any examples of products in the regulation. However, one of the above-mentioned standards mentions some types of electrical vehicles.
Other batteries
The regulation states that it applies to all categories of batteries. However, it then goes on to mention five categories of batteries:
- Portable batteries
- SLI batteries
- LMT batteries
- Electric vehicle batteries
- Industrial batteries
Considering how Article 1(3) is drafted (see section at the beginning of this guide), we understand the provision to mean that all batteries should fit under one of the five mentioned categories.
In case of bikes, fhe LMT batteries also fall under machinery directive and the EN 50604+A1 is applicable. See e.g. restriction on harmonization with the machinery directive of the EN 15194:2017 or the EN15194:2017+A1:2023.
The strange thing is, an E-bike battery is allowed to be sold separately without this standard, but a bike manufacturer has to ensure that the battery complies with the standard.