The European Union is moving ahead with a controversial plan to implement one universal charger for electronic devices ranging from smartphones to laptop computers.
Under the proposed European rules, manufacturers from Apple (AAPL) to IBM (IBM) will be forced to create a universal charging solution for smartphones and other electronics.
The proposed rule changes in Europe will apply to:
- smartphones
- tablets
- cameras
- headphones
- portable speakers
- handheld video game consoles
The aim of the new regulations is to reduce electronic waste by encouraging consumers to re-use existing chargers when buying a new device.
Going forward, all smartphones sold within the European Union must have USB-C chargers, according to a written draft of a proposal by the European Commission.
Apple and other electronic manufacturers have criticized the move and warned that it will harm innovation. Apple is the main manufacturer of smartphones using a custom charging port, as its iPhone series uses an Apple-made “Lightning” connector.
Most Android smartphones come with USB micro-B charging ports or have already moved to the more modern USB-C standard.
New models of the iPad and MacBook laptop computer use USB-C charging ports, as do high-end smartphone models from popular Android manufacturers such as Samsung and Huawei.
Around half of chargers sold with mobile phones in the European Union in 2018 had a USB micro-B connector, while 29% had a USB-C connector and 21% a Lightning connector, a Commission impact assessment study found.
Other products including earbuds, smart-watches and fitness trackers were not considered for technical reasons linked to size and use conditions, according to the European Commission.
In the European Union, approximately 420 million mobile phones and other portable electronic devices were sold in the last year.
The European proposal also standardizes fast charging speeds, meaning that devices capable of fast charging will all be charged at the same speeds going forward.
European politicians have been campaigning for a common charger standard for more than a decade, with the Commission’s research estimating that disposed of and unused charging cables generate more than 11,000 tonnes of waste each year.
