The European Union (EU), which recently made USB Type-C charging ports mandatory on all smartphones, tablets and laptops, is now working on a new regulation aimed at making batteries more sustainable and reusable. The new arrangement could bring back the removable battery and clamshell phones we left behind.Removable batteries for smartphones are back
Reportedly, the new regulation will require tech companies to switch to a design with easier access to batteries. Thus, it is aimed to change the battery by removing the battery cover or screws of the devices. So could this mean the return of removable batteries to smartphones? We don’t know yet. However, we can say that it will make electronic devices more sustainable and extend their life. Also, if the new regulation is passed, it will set a new standard for the rest of the world, apart from the EU.
The new EU law is expected to apply to all types of batteries sold in the EU, including batteries used in electronic devices, industrial batteries, automotive batteries. However, from early 2024, battery manufacturers will have to report the total carbon footprint of their products from the disassembly stage to the recycling process.
Bad news for Apple, Google and Samsung
The collected data will be used to determine the maximum CO2 limit for batteries, which will come into effect until July 2027. The new EU regulation has not yet been approved by the parliament and the council. However, we can say that the new change will cause new design searches for popular device manufacturers such as Apple, Google and Samsung.
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