After the USB Type-C charger, the European Union is still in the gap and now wants removable (and easily replaceable) batteries for all electronics.

They have been much less in 2022, but the trend is already declining for years and so only 9 smartphones launched with removable battery in 2021something that the European Union does not seem to like it too much in ecological terms and sustainability.

In any case, we are not going to discover America because this is something that had already been announced from Brusselsand it is that while the terms of the norm that forces to implement USB-C as the only charging connector for any electronic product sold in the Old continentfrom the European Commission they already anticipated us more regulations to increase the useful life of our devices and thus try to limit electronic waste.

And we already have the first one here, because as our friends from xda-developersit seems that the technicians of the European Union are already working with the new regulation about batterieswhich should be user replaceable thus ensuring that the most delicate component of a mobile device can easily replaced without going to a technical service and without the need to consider a change of smartphone.

As is obvious, for now we only talk about laptops and smartphonesdo not give wearables or devices with difficult opening or with a complicated design fit for the battery, and we also do not know how will that affect the design of the terminalsbut the EU seems to be serious about turning our electronic devices into more sustainable products.

We say this because smartphones have ended up becoming glass and metal sandwiches with constructions unibody that should be retouched completely, surely adopting again plastic materials, back covers or strange modular designs like that one LG G5 & Friends It fell under its own weight.

Do we really need or want our precious and immaculate smartphones to be exchanged for new designs with a polycarbonate back cover that allows access to the battery? Perhaps a slot for the battery similar to that of the nano-SIM would allow adopting the standard without impairing the designs of the most ‘top’ smartphones.

Be that as it may, the fact is that without going into specific devices or products, it seems that the general idea of ​​the European Commission is that all types of batteries sold in Europe should be easier to remove and replacealso providing the consumer with much more information about the batteries of their products through labels and QR codes that will show capacity, performance, durability, chemical composition, and available recycling and replacement options.

The new regulation will also establish some minimum levels of recycled materials necessary for batteries produced and sold in Europe, marking a minimum of 16% recycled cobalt, 85% lead, 6% lithium and 6% nickel. Interesting this point, without a doubt, that will force a more circular economy model already in the production phasewithout involving the user himself.

Will we see modular designs like the LG G5 again?

remain many details to polish and many months ahead to legislate, although there is already talk of applying new regulations even for the sustainability of our vehicle batteriesboth starting or lighting in conventional cars as well as energy accumulators in EVs or personal mobility vehicles, in addition to any other electronic product that incorporates a battery of any composition.

The manufacturers would have a minimum of 42 months to adapt to the standards once the law is passed, so the challenge of modifying your designs will have an acceptable term in which solutions must be thought of and implemented that allow easy replacement of a battery in any product.

It’s going to be fun to see how the market takes it and What solutions are adopted by Samsung, Apple and the rest of the giants? so as not to penalize design and/or materials on your devices.