In batch mode, emacs doesn't load installed packages, although the doc implies that it should.  If you want to eval forms that require packages, you have to call (package-initialize) explicitly.

For instance, from a shell:

% emacs -batch -eval '(progn (message "%s" package-directory-list))'

Symbol's value as variable is void: package-directory-list

% emacs -batch -eval '(progn (package-initialize) (message "%s" package-directory-list))'

(c:/emacs/emacs/share/emacs/24.4/site-lisp/elpa c:/emacs/emacs/share/emacs/site-lisp/elpa)

Or, since I have the 'dash' package installed in my ~/.emacs.d/elpa:

% emacs -batch -eval "(progn (require 'dash))"

Cannot open load file: no such file or directory, dash

% emacs -batch -eval "(progn (package-initialize) (require 'dash))"

%

The documentation at

is not totally clear on this, but it implies that packages should be loaded.

In GNU Emacs 24.4.1 (i686-pc-mingw32)

 of 2014-10-24 on LEG570

Windowing system distributor `Microsoft Corp.', version 6.1.7601

Configured using:

 `configure --prefix=/c/usr'

Important settings:

  value of $LANG: ENU

  locale-coding-system: cp1252

Major mode: Apropos