will the replaceable battery come back?
After the EU had already decided to provide phones with a USB-C port as standard, it is now time for the next step. It’s about replaceable batteries.
Replaceable batteries in smartphones?
The European Union is working on legislation to see whether manufacturers can be obliged to use interchangeable batteries in smartphones. These batteries were very standard until a few years ago, but nowadays it is hardly possible to replace a battery yourself. A preliminary agreement now shows that the EU is working on a bill to enable users to change the battery themselves.
The agreement does not only cover the battery of smartphones, but many more devices that contain portable batteries. Also think of electric bicycles, electric vehicles and so-called SLI batteries that can serve as a starter battery, for example.
When the legislation is passed, manufacturers will have 3.5 years to develop their devices in such a way that users can easily replace and remove the battery. This is a challenge for foldable smartphones, for example, where the battery is often split in half, with a separate battery in each half. This has to do with the size and weight distribution of the device.
Battery Passport
According to the legislation, every battery should be provided with a label and a QR code. This allows more information to be obtained about capacity, performance, durability, chemical composition and more. A digital battery passport will be added with information about the type of battery.
The steps are necessary to deal with things more environmentally consciously. It is not uncommon for good smartphones to be thrown out because the battery is simply no longer sufficient. In addition, the development of both batteries and smartphones causes environmental pollution. Batteries should be able to be collected free of charge anywhere in the EU. As mentioned, the bill has not yet been adopted, it will first be discussed by the European Parliament and the European Council. Earlier, a law was passed that obliges manufacturers to provide their smartphones (and other devices) with a USB-C port.
