The European Parliament is gradually changing the legislation around the stuck battery in your iPhone. Read all about this new EU law in this article!
EU: Get rid of glued-on batteries!
The European Parliament has passed a new law that prohibits smartphone manufacturers, such as Apple, from securely attaching batteries to phones. This still results in a battery that is difficult to replace. If it is up to the EU, we will soon be able to easily place a new battery in our iPhone.
The proposal was passed by a large majority, but cannot yet be enforced. First, there must be consultation with all Member States and they must also agree. We will hear more about this in the coming years.
‘From 2024 you can replace your battery yourself’
From 2024, the law should come into effect and consumers should be able to replace their batteries in iPhones easily and safely. For this reason, consumers are no longer allowed to glue the batteries. However, Apple clamps the battery in the housing in a different way; with special screws. It is not yet known whether this will also be banned.
The EU is committed to a better environment
The EU’s aim with this legislation is to simplify the recycling of batteries, which are becoming scarce and more popular. This will make Europe less dependent on conflict zones for raw materials. In addition, batteries must play a central role in the fight against climate change. This replaceable battery law falls under the Right to Repairprogram of the EU. The new law is not only intended for iPhones, but for all devices with glued batteries. Think of laptops and e-bikes.
The European Parliament is also working on a universal charger. A universal charger, such as USB-C, may mean the end of Apple’s famous Lightning cable. This connection is actually ‘out of date’, but has already become a classic in ten years’ time. According to the EU, just like with replaceable batteries, there is still much room for improvement in the area of ​​cabling regarding climate change.