The European Union (EU) has officially agreed upon new regulations that require smartphone makers to design their devices to let users easily replace the batteries on their devices, almost a month after the European Parliament voted to enact a law forcing OEMs of all battery-powered devices, including smartphones, to bring easily replaceable batteries. This also means there will be a fundamental change in how smartphones are designed and manufactured globally.
It is to be noted that since European Council only has jurisdiction over Europe, and therefore, the law will not be effective globally. However, it is not possible for handset makers to design and manufacture devices with both easily replaceable and non-replaceable batteries.
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The Council today adopted a new regulation that strengthens sustainability rules for batteries and waste batteries. The regulation will regulate the entire life cycle of batteries – from production to reuse and recycling – and ensure that they are safe, sustainable and competitive, the European Council said in a press statement.
"Batteries are key to the decarbonisation process and the EU's shift towards zero-emission modes of transport. At the same time end-of-life batteries contain many valuable resources and we must be able to reuse those critical raw materials instead of relying on third countries for supplies. The new rules will promote the competitiveness of European industry and ensure new batteries are sustainable and contribute to the green transition," Teresa Ribera, Spanish minister for the ecological transition, said in a statement.
There was a time when mobile phone manufacturers would make handsets that were fitted with easily replaceable batteries and that is likely to make a comeback. Once the Council and Parliament in the EU sign off on the new regulation, it would come into effect in early 2027.
The regulation of the European Parliament and the Council will apply to all batteries including all waste portable batteries, electric vehicle batteries, industrial batteries, starting, lightning and ignition (SLI) batteries (used mostly for vehicles and machinery) and batteries for light means of transport (e.g. electric bikes, e-mopeds, e-scooters).