EU Approves New Regulations That Require Apple, Samsung And Countless Others To Offer ‘Easy to Replace’ Batteries

wccftech.com:

Various technology companies such as Apple and Samsung will have to drastically change the design of their future products thanks to the adoption of new regulations from the EU. According to the latest announcement, there will be strict rules in place, requiring operators to verify the source of raw materials for batteries placed on the market while letting users easily replace those cells too without requiring much effort.

Keeping sustainability in mind, the European Union has laid out rules which apply to all batteries, such as waste portable ones, industrial ones, and others. Not surprisingly, these rules will affect the way Apple, Samsung, and countless others do business, likely forcing them to change the design of their products without going against the rules while also offering the same premium feel. These technology companies have not spoken about the regulations, but the EU’s mandate might likely be challenged in the near future.

“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).”

Alongside the new rules, the EU has also set specific targets for producers to collect these waste portable batteries. By 2027, these entities are required to reach 63 percent of that goal, and by 2030, they must fulfill 73 percent of that target. Lithium recovery was also a requirement in the EU’s regulation, aiming to acquire 50 percent of it from producers by 2027 and 80 percent by 2031.

According to an earlier amendment, around 587