Recently all smartphones, tablets and laptops, USB Type-C charging ports, which makes mandatory the European Union (EU), now working on a new regulation that aims to make the batteries more sustainable and reusable. The new regulation can bring back the removable battery and clamshell phones that we left behind.

Removable batteries for smartphones are making a comeback

According to reports, the new regulation will require technology companies to switch to a design that makes batteries easier to access. Thus, it is aimed to replace the battery by removing the battery cover or screws of the devices. So could this mean the return of removable batteries to smartphones? We don't know yet. However, we can say that it will make electronic devices more sustainable and extend their life. In addition, if the new regulation is adopted, it will set a new standard for the rest of the world, except for the EU.

The new EU law is expected to apply to all types of batteries sold in the EU, including batteries used in electronic devices, industrial batteries, automotive batteries. However, battery manufacturers will have to report the total carbon footprint of the products from the dismantling stage of the batteries to the recycling process starting from the beginning of 2024.

Bad news for Apple, Google and Samsung

This data collected will be used to determine the maximum CO2 limit for batteries, which will come into force by July 2027. The new EU regulation has not yet been approved by the parliament and the council. However, we can say that the new change will cause new design searches for popular device manufacturers such as Apple, Google and Samsung.