Kia trials new “passport” tech for EV battery health and performance
Kia Europe is trialling a new cell-level battery passport to provide real-time data on the health and performance of every individual battery cell for its electric vehicles (EVs).
The Koren brand said the initiative represents “a major step toward greater accountability, repairability and value retention for EVs”.
The technology could help dealers when talking to EV customers to give greater detail on the battery performance when buying used electric Kias, as well as a greater level of information for technincians to unlock battery cell repairs.
The trial, carried out using a Kia EV3, explores how live cell monitoring can deliver a clearer picture of battery condition throughout its lifecycle.
This information is uploaded to a digital battery passport, allowing users, technicians and regulators to access accurate State of Health (SoH) data directly through the vehicle’s infotainment system.
Improving battery insight and customer confidence
Marc Hedrich, president and chief executive at Kia Europe, said:
Kia aims to set a new standard for customers regarding battery transparency and performance.
“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.”
Preparing for EU battery passport legislation
Kia has created a dedicated internal organisation to develop a full battery passport service in collaboration with industry partners.
The service will go beyond EU regulatory requirements by including enhanced safety and performance data. The brand plans to roll out the feature across all EV and hybrid models sold in Europe by February 2027, ahead of new EU battery passport legislation.
READ the latest Batteries News shaping the battery market
Kia trials new “passport” tech for EV battery health and performance, source
