The battery passport itself lives at a URL; the data carrier is simply how a person or system reaches that URL from the physical battery. Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 requires a data carrier and a unique identifier on the product, and a QR code under ISO/IEC 18004 is the common, low-friction choice. NFC is an alternative carrier with different trade-offs.
| Property | QR code (ISO/IEC 18004) | NFC |
|---|---|---|
| Reader required | Any phone camera | NFC-capable device |
| Cost per unit | Printable, effectively free | Embedded chip, added cost |
| Application | Printed on label or surface | Chip integrated into the product |
| Damage tolerance | High error correction, still scans if scuffed | Fails if the chip is damaged |
| Interaction | Scan from a distance | Tap at close range |
| What it carries | The passport URL | The passport URL |
Why QR is the practical default
A QR code can be printed at print-grade resolution with a high error-correction level, is readable by any camera without special hardware, and costs effectively nothing per unit. That makes it the lowest-friction carrier for a manufacturer or importer who needs to apply a passport link to every individual battery. NFC can complement QR where tap interaction or anti-counterfeiting features are wanted, at the cost of an embedded chip.
- QR: printable, universally scannable, low cost, high error correction.
- NFC: tap interaction and chip-level features, but needs hardware and adds unit cost.
- Either way, the carrier resolves to the immutable passport URL — it is not the passport.
Frequently asked
Does the regulation require a QR code specifically?
The regulation requires a data carrier and a unique identifier that link to the passport. A QR code under ISO/IEC 18004 is the common, low-friction choice, but the key requirement is that the carrier resolves to the passport with its Annex XIII tiers.
Is NFC better than a QR code for the battery passport?
Neither is strictly better. QR is printable, universally scannable and effectively free per unit; NFC adds tap interaction and chip-level features at the cost of an embedded chip and a compatible reader. Both resolve to the same passport URL.