By Abbas Nazil
China will begin mandatory carbon footprint reporting for new energy vehicle power batteries from this year, following the announcement of a national pilot program by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The initiative will require battery manufacturers to report lifecycle carbon emissions for representative battery models during a trial phase, with full-scale reporting across all models planned for 2027.
According to MIIT, the pilot program is designed primarily to build a comprehensive carbon footprint management system rather than to impose immediate regulatory penalties on companies.
The policy targets power batteries because they account for a substantial share of total emissions in the lifecycle of new energy vehicles, particularly those using high-energy lithium-ion chemistries.
Lithium iron phosphate batteries, which are widely used in China, generally have a lower carbon footprint, making accurate measurement important for technology comparison and policy design.
The move also aligns China’s battery industry with international practices, as regions such as the European Union already require product-level carbon footprint disclosures for batteries.
MIIT stated that standardized and transparent carbon accounting is essential to achieving China’s carbon neutrality goals and strengthening the global competitiveness of its NEV exports.
Under the pilot, carbon footprint calculations will cover four key lifecycle stages, including raw material acquisition, battery manufacturing, distribution, and recycling.
Emissions will be normalized based on the total energy output of each battery to ensure comparability across different products and chemistries.
Manufacturers will collect activity data such as energy consumption, material use, transportation, and recycling processes, while background data will include standardized emission factors for materials and energy sources.
Regional electricity emission factors and green power certificates will be incorporated to reflect differences in China’s energy mix across provinces.
Battery cycle life emissions will be calculated using measured cycle data in line with national battery testing standards.
Multiple stakeholders will participate in the reporting system, including battery manufacturers, raw material suppliers, third-party verification bodies, research institutions, and industry associations.
Manufacturers will be responsible for data submission and calculation, while accredited auditors will review and certify the reported information.
Universities and research institutes will help maintain and update the national background database used for emission factor calculations.
MIIT plans to review results from the 2026 pilot, refine standards, and coordinate with other regulators to ensure consistency with broader carbon management policies.
Officials expect the program to improve transparency, encourage innovation in battery production and recycling, and enhance international recognition of China’s battery carbon data.
Full implementation in 2027 is intended to establish a robust, secure, and internationally aligned carbon accounting framework for the automotive sector.
