EU to Require Removable Batteries on Mobile Devices

The European Union will require new smartphones to have replaceable batteries by 2027. What is the rationale behind the ruling and how will it affect you?

The EU approved new legislation in June for the design, production and waste management of batteries sold within its borders. One of the rulings stated companies had to design “portable batteries in appliances in such a way that consumers can themselves easily remove and replace them.” This includes smartphones, tablets and digital cameras.

Like its recent USB-C cable mandate, the move is done to reduce electronic waste.  Roughly 5.3 billion cellphones were expected to be discarded in 2022, according to an October report by the WEEE Forum.

How does this affect people who don’t live in the EU?

While the ruling is only enforceable in the EU, due to its size (447.7 million people), most manufacturers will probably make these changes universal. It would be more cost-effective to build one version of a product than splitting production and, say, selling mobile devices with replaceable batteries in the EU and ones with embedded batteries elsewhere.

So by 2027, it’s likely that most mobile device manufacturers will design the majority of their smartphones and tablets with replaceable batteries. However, there could be some region-specific devices that wouldn’t need to adhere to this ruling.

This is a good thing, right?

Yes, it will be handy to be able to replace a damaged or old battery on a tablet or smartphone. This will likely also reduce e-waste. The EU is operating on the assumption that many consumers don’t throw out their devices each year because they want to upgrade to the latest model. They throw them out because the depleted batteries have made the devices unusable.

Issues with replacing batteries

However, replacing a battery on a tablet or smartphone can be a trying experience. To purchase an official replacement battery from the device manufacturer can often be quite expensive.

Third-party batteries, on the other hand, tend to be cheaper but often don’t offer the same level of quality. In some cases, these batteries aren’t even the same size and you need to put a new back plate on the phone or tablet so it fits. This can make the device bulkier and more difficult to carry.

Protect the battery from the beginning

The better solution is to protect the battery from the start so it lasts longer. The Charge-Check is a small, lightweight adapter that provides plug-and-play overcharge protection for virtually lithium battery-powered device that charges over USB. It slows down battery degradation, ultimately extending the life of your device.

EU legislation a good start

The EU ruling mandating replaceable batteries in mobile devices and other products is a strong measure. It could have a real impact on reducing global e-waste. Unfortunately, swapping out old batteries for new ones comes with its own headaches.

With the Charge-Check, you can avoid this as it keeps the original battery healthy so it doesn’t need replacing in the first place. To learn more, check out LAVA’s website or contact sales at saes@lavalink.com or 416-674-5942.

Subscribe to LAVA’s Newsletter and stay up to date on the latest company news, new product releases, and tech industry insights.

(Unsplash photo by Tyler Lastovich)