Available data and initial analysis on performance and durability for portable batteries of general use : preliminary scenarios for minimum requirements

A draft Regulation on sustainable batteries to replace the current Battery Directive 2006/66/EC is currently under discussion by the co-legislators. One of the classes of batteries to be covered in the new Regulation are primary and secondary portable batteries of general use which are defined (by the Regulation) as batteries having common formats, such as AA, AAA, C or D. JRC.C.1 supports DG ENV, the leading policy DG for this Regulation, with scientific and technical advice. This study analyses primary and secondary portable batteries with regard to the performance and durability parameters listed in Annex III of the draft Regulation (e.g. battery capacity, minimum average duration, shelf-life). Most of the data is collected from battery data sheets of various manufacturers. However, these data are found to be incomplete in many aspects (e.g.testing conditions not reported, testing refers to only a sub-set of application tests): additional information is gathered conducting performance tests in the JRC laboratories in Petten. Different scenarios, both for primary and secondary batteries, are outlined to verify what would be the economic consequences of stricter performance requirements compared to those contained in current international and European standards. The current study describes a method for establishing minimum battery performance requirements. The threshold requirements discussed here are not to be understood as actually proposed minimum requirement, but as a starting point for defining them. The assessment of a possible phase out of primary portable batteries of general use based on life cycle assessment will be carried out by the end of 2030. This research contributes to fine tuning the scope of the new Regulation, but has also been limited in several aspects. The conclusions highlight the main recommendations drawn from this study, together with possible ideas for future research.