This EU legislation could bring back user replaceable batteries

The EU is dictating new legislation that is friendly to users and the environment. Recently, a law was passed that requires manufacturers to equip all portable electronic devices with a USB Type-C port from the end of 2024. It also presses lawmakers to accept another law that could force companies like Apple to allow sideloading. Open up the ecosystem and provide a fairer and more equal playing field for all players.

A new interim agreement by the EU requires companies to use user-replaceable batteries again. The motivation behind this move is to reduce e-waste and is strongly driven by environmental concerns.The EU wants to become more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint, We hope to bring back user-replaceable batteries, or at least make them easier than they are now.

Agreed regulations require the use of portable batteries, SLI batteries (which provide power for vehicle lighting, ignition, and starting) and Light Transportation Vehicle (LMT) batteries (which provide power for towing wheeled vehicles). Covers all battery types sold in the EU, including bicycles, etc.), electric vehicles (EVs).

The regulation will also introduce new measures such as the recovery of batteries and the recovery of materials such as cobalt, lead, lithium and nickel from batteries for reuse in the production of new batteries. Additionally, battery collection is cost-free for consumers and businesses will have to deal with collecting them.

• “Recovery targets are set at 45% by 2023, 63% by 2027, 73% by 2030 for portable batteries, 51% by 2028 and 61% by 2031 for LMT batteries. increase.
• A minimum level of cobalt (16%), lead (85%), lithium (6%), and nickel (6%) recovered from manufacturing and consumer waste must be reused in new batteries.
• All discarded LMT, EV, SLI and industrial batteries, regardless of their nature, chemical composition, condition, brand or origin, must be collected free of charge to the end user.
• By 31 December 2030, the European Commission will assess whether to phase out the use of common non-rechargeable portable batteries. ”

New batteries must carry new labels and QR codes containing information about the battery such as capacity, performance, durability, chemistry and the “separate collection” symbol.

Rapporteur Achille Variati (S&D, IT) said: We have agreed on measures that will bring significant benefits to consumers. Batteries work better, are safer, and are easier to remove. Our overall aim is to build a stronger EU recycling industry and a competitive industrial sector as a whole, especially with respect to lithium. This will be critical for the continent’s energy transition and strategic autonomy in the coming decades. These measures could set a benchmark for the entire global battery market. “

Sustainability, repairability and a fair playground

Over the past five years, the EU has taken many new interim and legislative decisions to help consumers. New legislation has made it easier to charge devices and use standards accepted by all players in the industry, but this has yet to be enforced by companies such as Apple. It could change the game forever, and after years of gradual phasing out, user-replaceable batteries could be reintroduced into the market.

There are currently only a few dozen modern devices on the market that offer user-replaceable batteries, and the latest device to join the club is the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro. Most of these devices are aimed at people who need a more robust and durable device for work and often lack high-end performance, power and extra features.

It’s also worth mentioning that the introduction of foldable devices has made using replaceable batteries even more complicated. It often contains two cells, one on the top or left side and one on the bottom or right side, depending on the form factor. Foldables are already fragile, and it remains to be seen how this will become more repairable and environmentally friendly. Modern smartphones are no exception, often lacking pull tabs and replacing the back glass. It’s also worth pointing out that there is a need to reach the battery and other components inside the device.