Electric vehicles (EVs) are growing rapidly in India, and to keep this ecosystem transparent, safe, and environmentally responsible, the government has proposed a new identification system for EV batteries called Battery Pack Aadhaar Number (BPAN). The move is aimed at improving accountability and traceability across the entire battery lifecycle.

The proposal has been introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) as part of upcoming regulatory reforms for the EV sector.

What is Battery Pack Aadhaar Number (BPAN)?

BPAN is a unique 21-character alphanumeric identification number that will be assigned to every electric vehicle battery manufactured, imported, or sold in India.

Much like Aadhaar identifies an individual, BPAN will act as a digital identity for an EV battery. It will record and track:

• Where and when the battery was manufactured

• Which vehicle it was used in

• Whether it was reused, recycled, or safely disposed of

The system is proposed to be implemented under Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) to ensure uniform rules nationwide.

Why is the government introducing BPAN?

The primary goal is to track the complete lifecycle of EV batteries, from production to disposal. This will help:

• Prevent unsafe and illegal dumping of batteries

• Improve battery recycling and reuse

• Reduce environmental damage caused by battery waste

• Increase transparency in the EV supply chain

With EV batteries containing hazardous materials, proper tracking has become essential.

Key features of BPAN

• Every battery manufacturer or importer must generate a BPAN

• All battery-related details must be uploaded to a central digital portal

• Any major technical modification to a battery will require a new BPAN

• The BPAN must be permanently imprinted on the battery and cannot be removed or replaced

• Initial focus will be on EV batteries, which account for nearly 80% of India’s lithium-ion battery demand

• Industrial batteries with a capacity of more than 2 kWh are also recommended to be covered

Why is BPAN important for EV owners and the environment?

BPAN will:

• Enable systematic and safe battery recycling

• Strengthen enforcement of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) norms

• Discourage illegal resale and dumping of used batteries

• Make EV ownership safer and more transparent

Overall, BPAN is seen as a major step toward a sustainable and responsible EV ecosystem in India.