The EU has reached a provisional agreement to revamp its regulation on batteries to make them easier to remove and replace and to provide consumers with more information about the batteries they buy through labels and QR codes. These new regulations will apply to portable batteries, SLI batteries (used to start vehicles), light means of transport (LMT) batteries (used to power electric scooters and bikes), electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and industrial batteries. Manufacturers will have three and a half years to design appliances with portable batteries that allow users to easily remove and replace them. The new regulations will require manufacturers to develop and implement a “due diligence policy”. Therefore, addressing the social and environmental risks associated with sourcing, processing, and trading raw materials for batteries. The regulation will also set minimum levels of recycled materials that the manufacturers must use in the production of new batteries: 16% cobalt, 85% lead, 6% lithium, and 6% nickel.
The challenge of user-replaceable batteries for smartphone and laptop manufacturers
One of the main reasons that manufacturers abandoned user-replaceable batteries was their desire to make devices thinner and more compact. Removable back covers and user-replaceable batteries took up extra space, which was a disadvantage for manufacturers who wanted to make their devices as slim as possible. In addition, sealed batteries were generally easier to manufacture and required less assembly, which reduced production costs. However, with the new proposed regulation, user-replaceable batteries could make a return. This poses a significant challenge for tech giants like Apple and Samsung, as most smartphones and laptops currently on the market come with non-removable batteries. The regulation could force these companies to completely rethink their product design and bring back removable back covers on smartphones and laptops to allow users to easily pop out the battery. While the new regulation is still in the proposal stage and has yet to be finalized, it represents an important step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to battery production and disposal. Therefore, by making it easier for users to replace their batteries, the EU is working towards a future where our devices have a smaller impact on the environment.
