20 minutes – EU demands uniform charging cables for devices

survey

Do you think unifying the cables is a good idea?

–
–

–

Different connections lead to a lot of electronic waste. According to the parliament, around 51,000 tonnes are generated annually just because of different charging cables. In addition, it is annoying for customers to have to constantly use multiple charging cables or not to be able to charge the Android phone in an Apple household.

No. The discussion about charging cables already came up in 2009. At that time, around 30 different connections were still on the market. Since then, the number of different charging cables has been reduced, since most providers now use micro USB or USB-C connections. Only Apple continues to insist on its Lightning connector.

In Switzerland, the Federal Council decided in 2015 that from 2017 all cell phones and tablets must be compatible with a uniform charger. At that time it was stated that devices that do not comply with this regulation could be banned from being sold. Years later, however, Apple still sells phones with other connections in Switzerland.

A year ago, Apple expressed criticism of the Lightning connections to the EU. At the time, a spokesman said: “More than a billion Apple devices use the Lightning cables. A change in the law could mean that we have to send countless adapters or new cables to hundreds of millions of Apple users. That would generate a monumentally large pile of electronic waste. ”In addition, regulating the charging cables would freeze technological innovation in this sector.

EU politician Evelyne Gebhardt assumes that industry will not solve the problem on its own. One should no longer get involved in the “delaying tactics of the lobbyists”, but instead call for binding standards, she says. The EU Parliament will vote on its position on the subject in a resolution at the end of January.

(Doz)

– ,