USB-C is set to become the standard for charging cables
USB C is set to become the standard in the EU. (Image: Alexander Yakimow / Shutterstock)
The EU Commission wants only one cable to be required to charge smartphones, tablets or headphones in the future. The agency presented a legislative proposal on Thursday to make USB-C the standard.
European households should follow the will of the EU Commission in the future you will only need one cable to charge cell phones, tablets or headphones. The Brussels authority presented a legislative proposal on Thursday, according to which the charging sockets in electrical devices should be standardized. The USB-C connection, which many companies such as Samsung and Motorola are already using, should become the common standard. The standardization would be a nuisance, especially for Apple with its in-house Lightning connector.
“European consumers have been annoyed long enough about incompatible chargers piling up in their drawers,” said EU Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager. At the same time, the environment benefits from a standardization of the charging sockets, because significantly less electronic waste is generated. Consumers should save 250 million euros a year through the proposal of the EU Commission.
With its advance, the authority is putting an end to voluntary cooperation with industry after years of hesitation. As early as 2009, 14 cell phone manufacturers – including Apple – agreed to a uniform standard for power supplies under pressure from the EU Commission. When it comes to sockets in smartphones and tablet computers, there were still three of the dozen types that were once left: the now outdated Micro-USB, the newer USB-C and the thinner Lightning connectors from Apple.
According to the Commission’s proposal, the USB-C sockets are to become standard in smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, portable speakers and hand-held consoles. The agency also suggests that consumers should be able to buy new devices without a charger in the future – after all, power supplies are lying around in most households anyway. The fast charging technology is also to be standardized in all devices.
It will take some time before all of this is a reality. First of all, the EU Parliament and EU states have to negotiate. The new rules must then be converted into national law before manufacturers are granted a transition period of two years. dpa
