Kia Europe is pioneering the future of electric vehicle (EV) battery management with its first public trial of a cell-level battery passport, marking a significant step toward greater transparency, sustainability, and customer trust in EV ownership. This preliminary research provides live, detailed insights into the health of each battery cell, offering a new standard for battery performance monitoring across the EV lifecycle.
What is a Battery Passport?
A battery passport is a digital record that tracks critical information about an EV battery, including State of Health (SoH), real-time diagnostics, and lifecycle traceability. By monitoring individual cells within the battery pack, Kia aims to deliver benefits such as:
- Extended battery life through proactive maintenance
- Lower repair costs via targeted cell-level interventions
- Enhanced trust for used EV buyers through verified live battery data
“Kia aims to set a new standard for customers regarding battery transparency and performance,” said Marc Hedrich, President and CEO of Kia Europe. “Through testing cell-level battery passports, we gain insights on what ownership benefits we can offer our customers. On top of advantages such as extended battery life, we will be building on a relationship of trust as well.”
Kia’s Dedicated Battery Passport Initiative
Beyond the preliminary trial, Kia has established a dedicated internal team to develop its own battery passport service, collaborating with partners across the EV battery value chain. This service will go beyond regulatory requirements by including additional safety and performance data, setting a benchmark for the industry. Kia plans to roll out the service across all EV and hybrid EV (HEV) models in Europe by February 2027, in compliance with EU battery regulations.
Trial Vehicle and Live Monitoring
The trial uses a Kia EV3 equipped with a Dukosi battery cell monitoring system, shipped from Korea to Germany in February. The system monitors and uploads live data for each battery cell to the digital battery passport, allowing drivers, mechanics, and regulators to access real-time SoH information through the car’s infotainment system.
The system automatically updates after any repair, ensuring complete traceability and accuracy throughout the battery’s lifecycle. Data sharing during the trial was facilitated through a pilot environment developed by TNO, while the trial was coordinated by Delft University of Technology in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group.
European Collaboration for Battery Passport Maturity
Kia’s trial is part of a broader EU-wide research initiative exploring the technical and practical challenges of implementing a digital battery passport. Global automotive parts vendor Hyundai Mobis and Hyundai Motor Group handled the secure integration of vehicle and backend systems.
The trial also collaborated with the EU-funded DATAPIPE project and ARN, the Dutch producer responsibility organization for end-of-life car and battery treatment. The EU battery passport currently tracks over 100 data attributes, highlighting the depth of information that can be shared securely across stakeholders.
Benefits for EV Owners: Smarter, Cheaper, Cleaner
Unlike conventional monitoring systems that track only the overall battery pack, Kia’s cell-level monitoring provides detailed insights that empower customers to:
- Detect issues early and reduce long-term maintenance costs
- Perform targeted cell-specific repairs instead of replacing entire modules
- Increase resale value and trust for used EVs through verified live data
- Support battery reuse and recycling for a more sustainable EV ecosystem
By offering real-time diagnostics and transparent data sharing, Kia demonstrates how automotive manufacturers can merge compliance with real customer value, setting a new benchmark for sustainable EV ownership.
