On Thursday the European Commission presented a proposal to standardize the charging technology of smartphones and other electronic devices on the market in the countries of the European Union. The Commission has proposed that the USB-C port become the standard connector format for all chargers, in order to reduce electronic waste and decrease the inconvenience caused to consumers by the existence of different and incompatible chargers for the various devices on the market.
The USB-C connector has existed since 2014 and is now one of the most common on several models of smartphones, tablets, laptops and video game consoles. One of the few companies that does not use it for their smartphones is the American Apple, whose iPhones need a charger with a Lightning connector, a standard created by Apple and used only for its products. Apple itself, however, uses chargers with a USB-C connector for its computers and for almost all iPad models. Apple opposed the Commission's decision arguing that standardizing chargers would harm innovation and take away the incentives to develop better and more efficient formats.
The Commission proposal also requires manufacturers to allow consumers to buy new electronic devices even without a new charger, with “greater benefits for consumers and a reduction in the environmental footprint associated with the manufacture and disposal of chargers”. The proposal will now have to be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, and if approved, companies will have 24 months from the date of adoption to adapt to the new requirements. In the past, the European Parliament had already expressed itself in favor of standardizing battery charger formats.
Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition, commented on the proposal saying that “European consumers have suffered for too long the inconvenience of having to accumulate several incompatible chargers. We have given the industry a lot of time to find a solution, but now is the time for legislative action to promote standardized chargers. This is an important benefit for consumers and the environment, in line with our ambitions for the green and digital transition “.
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