The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed a new system to assign a unique Aadhaar-like identification number to electric vehicle batteries. The move aims to improve traceability, safety, recycling efficiency, and lifecycle management of EV batteries as India’s electric mobility ecosystem rapidly expands.
What Is The Proposal About
Under the proposal, every electric vehicle battery sold or used in India would be assigned a unique identification number, similar to Aadhaar. This ID would help track the battery from the point of manufacturing to its final stage of recycling or disposal. The system is designed to create a digital record for each battery pack, ensuring transparency across the entire value chain.
Why Battery Traceability Is Important
EV batteries rely heavily on lithium-ion technology, which involves critical minerals and complex manufacturing processes. As EV adoption increases, concerns related to battery safety, environmental impact, improper disposal, and illegal recycling are also rising. A traceability mechanism would help regulators and manufacturers monitor battery health, usage patterns, and end-of-life handling more effectively.
How The Aadhaar-Like System Will Work
The proposed system assigns a unique identification number to each battery pack. This number would store key data such as manufacturing details, chemistry type, ownership changes, usage lifecycle, and recycling history. If a battery is repurposed for second-life applications such as energy storage, a new ID could be generated to reflect its updated status.
Impact On Manufacturers And Importers
Battery manufacturers and importers would be responsible for generating and updating the identification data. They would also need to ensure that the ID is clearly marked on the battery pack and remains readable throughout its lifespan. This would improve accountability and discourage unsafe or unregulated battery circulation.
Boost For Recycling And Circular Economy
One of the biggest advantages of this proposal is its potential to strengthen battery recycling and circular economy practices. Accurate tracking can help ensure batteries are sent to authorised recyclers and reused responsibly. It also supports extended producer responsibility, making manufacturers accountable for batteries even after consumer use ends.
A Step Towards Safer And Cleaner EV Growth
As India pushes aggressively towards electric mobility, managing battery waste and safety risks has become critical. The Aadhaar-like identification system reflects a proactive approach to regulating the EV ecosystem, improving sustainability, reducing environmental harm, and ensuring safer adoption of electric vehicles nationwide.
