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Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

ecopv-eu.com

11–20 of 560 posts

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#14
post #7

There's an exception for batteries that "retain at least 80% of its original capacity after 1,000 charge cycles." Coincidentally, iPhones and probably other flagships already qualify for this exception.

That had me thinking as well. What if the manufacturer says that to get to that number you are only allowed to charge it to 80% ever? My iPhone pro battery is at 92% at 417 cycles over 20 months.

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#15

...and Apple will be exempt due to a loophole in the law (80% after 1k cycles) making the law utterly pointless.

This makes no sense but I still see it mindlessly repeated to exhaustion. That mention is in no way Apple specific, it’s a quality of the battery itself. Any manufacturer is in the same position, not like Apple has a monopoly on batteries that hold 80% charge after 1000 cycles.

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#16
post #7

There's an exception for batteries that "retain at least 80% of its original capacity after 1,000 charge cycles." Coincidentally, iPhones and probably other flagships already qualify for this exception.

i’m ok with this and an $80 battery replacement in exchange for better waterproofing

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#17
post #8

Rule does not apply to gadgets that already retain 80% charge capacity at 1k charge cycles. What is the share of the smartphone market that this applies to?

0%.

Wait, that’s not true: In true regulatory capture fashion, I’ll bet the exemption requires some sort of testing/certification that makes it significantly more expensive for smaller firms to bring devices to market.

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#18

...and Apple will be exempt due to a loophole in the law (80% after 1k cycles) making the law utterly pointless.

not really! at the very least it requires more thought around battery quality

the choice for budget devices is now

1. better battery

2. removability (likely more expensive and complicates water-tightness )

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#19

...and Apple will be exempt due to a loophole in the law (80% after 1k cycles) making the law utterly pointless.

Yup, that’s a pretty wild loophole. I think they’re targeting the lower end of the market probably to reduce most of the ewaste.

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#20
I just called the shop to replace the perfectly fine e-Call battery in my soon four year old Hyundai car. 250€ to change a battery that has a ten year lifespan. I am not allowed to replace it on my own as it would invalidate the five year long guarantee provided by the manufacturer (not the one by law). Why is this stuff not considered as well?

Also curious whether the "specialized devices" exemptions are AND requirements. Even if those are AND, wouldn’t smartphone manufacturers try to satisfy all three of them?

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