Since December, the European Union has been working on a regulation that should oblige Apple to ensure that you can easily replace the battery in your iPhone. The EU Parliament now has one overwhelming majority agreed to the plan.
Replace your iPhone battery yourself
The EU has previously ensured that iPhones must have USB-C connections and has now agreed to new guidelines for batteries. According to this guidelines portable batteries such as those used in the iPhone, iPad and Mac must be easily replaceable by users themselves. The exact, extended text reads as follows:
A portable battery should be considered removable by the end user if it can be removed using commercially available tools without the need for special tools (unless provided free of charge), or proprietary tools, thermal energy, or battery disassembly solvents. Commercially available tools are considered tools that are available on the market to all end-users without the need to prove ownership rights and that can be used without restrictions, except for restrictions related to health and safety.
According to the EU, the goal is to make batteries more sustainable and perform better.
Better information for users
To better inform consumers, batteries are given labels and QR codes with information about their capacity, performance, durability and chemical composition. LMT batteries (industrial batteries with a capacity of more than 2 kWh) and EV batteries (batteries used to power an electric car) also receive a ‘digital battery passport’ with model information and information specific to the individual battery and its use.
However, it will likely take years for these new requirements to take effect. As it stands now, we expect that you will not be able to replace the battery of your iPhone yourself until 2027 at the earliest. Now that the European Parliament has approved the new rules, they must first be formally ratified.
Electric vehicle batteries
The legislation also contains new requirements for batteries used in electric vehicles. Perhaps it will become even more important when Apple unveils its ‘Car’.
- Stricter waste collection targets: for portable batteries (45% in 2023, 63% in 2027 and 73% in 2030) and for LMT batteries (51% in 2028 and 61% in 2031).
- Minimum levels of materials recovered from waste batteries: (lithium 50% in 2027 and 80% in 2031; cobalt, copper, lead and nickel 90% in 2027 and 95% in 2031).
- Minimum levels of recycled content from manufacturing and consumer waste for use in new batteries: 8 years after entry into force of the regulation 16% for cobalt, 85% for lead, 6% for lithium and 6% for nickel; 13 years after entry into force: 26% for cobalt, 85% for lead, 12% for lithium and 15% for nickel.
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