14 DAY TRIAL // 2022 has so far been a horrible year for Apple as far as the new regulations it must comply with are concerned.
The European Union, for instance, is forcing Apple to make the switch to USB-C by 2024, with people familiar with the matter revealing that the company plans to align with this requirement in 2023. This means the Lightning connector could be killed off once and for all, as all iPhones could eventually go for USB-C as part of the iPhone 15 series.
Then, it was revealed Apple could eventually be required to allow third-party app stores on iOS. Sideloading could be enforced as well, with iOS, therefore, getting closer to Android on this front.
And now, a new proposed law could force Apple and the rest of the phone makers selling mobile devices in Europe to equip their devices with removable batteries that are easier to remove and replace.
The EU is planning massive changes to the way batteries are currently labeled, as the purpose is to reduce electronic waste by allowing users to install new units and therefore use the same device much longer.
To do this, the EU authorities want to enforce new battery labels, obviously if the proposed regulations get the go-ahead.
“Three and a half years after the entry into force of the legislation, portable batteries in appliances must be designed so that consumers can easily remove and replace them themselves. To better inform consumers, batteries will carry labels and QR codes with information related to their capacity, performance, durability, chemical composition, as well as the “separate collection” symbol. LMT batteries, industrial batteries with a capacity above 2 kWh and EV batteries will also be required to have a “digital battery passport” including information on the battery model as well as information specific to the individual battery and its use,” the EU says.
While this is just a proposal for now, the Parliament and the Council have to formally approve the new regulations before they can come into effect.