IOTA’s blockchain finds practical use in electric vehicle supply chains
Orobo, an infrastructure platform, is now using IOTA’s distributed ledger technology to create Digital Product Passports for electric vehicle batteries. This isn’t just another blockchain project—it’s actually addressing a real regulatory requirement that’s coming from the European Union.
Starting in 2026, the EU will require Digital Product Passports for various products, and Orobo is getting ahead of this mandate. They’re starting with EV batteries, which makes sense given how important battery traceability has become. The system creates what they call a “digital twin” for each product, storing lifecycle data on IOTA’s network.
How the system actually works
What’s interesting here is how they’ve approached the privacy concerns. They’re hashing sensitive information, which means auditors can verify data without seeing confidential business details. I think that’s a smart move—supply chain partners often worry about exposing too much information to competitors.
They’ve also integrated IOTA’s Gas Station mechanism, which removes transaction fees for users. This is important because it lowers barriers to participation. If every supply chain partner had to pay fees to update product information, the system would probably fail.
The regulatory angle matters
The EU’s Ecodesign requirements are driving a lot of this development. Companies need to track product specifications, repair history, and recycling information. IOTA’s technology apparently ensures this data can’t be altered once recorded, which reduces fraud risks.
Orobo’s founder, Sann Carrière, mentioned they chose IOTA because of its focus on real-world applications. That’s telling—there are plenty of blockchain projects out there, but not many that actually solve concrete business problems like regulatory compliance.
Looking beyond EV batteries
While they’re starting with electric vehicle batteries, Orobo plans to expand into textiles and construction materials. The system uses custom smart contracts to handle different industry requirements. I’m curious how well this will scale across different sectors, but the approach seems flexible enough.
IOTA claims their network can process up to 50,000 transactions per second with sub-second finality. That’s important for supply chain applications where multiple parties might be updating information simultaneously.
What strikes me about this development is how it connects blockchain technology with actual government regulations. Too often, blockchain projects exist in a vacuum, solving problems nobody really has. This one seems different—it’s responding to a specific regulatory requirement that’s coming whether companies like it or not.
The timing is right too. With 2026 not that far off, companies need to start preparing their compliance systems now. Orobo’s approach using IOTA might offer a practical solution, though we’ll have to see how it performs in real-world testing.
It’s worth noting that IOTA has made their Digital Product Passport demonstration publicly available. That suggests they’re serious about transparency and want potential users to understand how the system works before committing to it.
