EU unified charging interface has made significant progress!
author: Jane
2022-10-07
EU unified charging interface has made significant progress!
On October 4, the European Parliament overwhelmingly supported the mandatory use of USB-C as a universal charging port for various consumer electronic devices, including iPhone and AirPod, by the end of 2024. This proposal, known as the Directive, forces all consumer electronics manufacturers selling products in Europe to ensure that their electronic devices have USB-C ports.
A press release released by the European Parliament earlier this week pointed out that by the end of 2024, all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in the EU must be equipped with USB-C charging ports. From the spring of 2026, this obligation will be extended to laptops. The new law, which was passed at the plenary session on Tuesday with 602 affirmative votes, 13 negative votes and 8 abstentions, is part of the broader efforts of the EU to reduce e-waste and empower consumers to make more sustainable choices.
This "universal port" will be the first standard in the world to be determined in legal form, especially for Apple, because it widely uses Lightning connectors instead of USB-C on many devices. Members of the European Parliament said that the move would reduce electronic waste, solve the sustainability of products and make the use of different equipment more convenient.
On October 4, the European Parliament overwhelmingly supported the mandatory use of USB-C as a universal charging port for various consumer electronic devices, including iPhone and AirPod, by the end of 2024. This proposal, known as the Directive, forces all consumer electronics manufacturers selling products in Europe to ensure that their electronic devices have USB-C ports.
A press release released by the European Parliament earlier this week pointed out that by the end of 2024, all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in the EU must be equipped with USB-C charging ports. From the spring of 2026, this obligation will be extended to laptops. The new law, which was passed at the plenary session on Tuesday with 602 affirmative votes, 13 negative votes and 8 abstentions, is part of the broader efforts of the EU to reduce e-waste and empower consumers to make more sustainable choices.
This "universal port" will be the first standard in the world to be determined in legal form, especially for Apple, because it widely uses Lightning connectors instead of USB-C on many devices. Members of the European Parliament said that the move would reduce electronic waste, solve the sustainability of products and make the use of different equipment more convenient.
Why should the European Union use a unified mobile charging interface?
1. Because the adoption of a unified charging interface is absolutely conducive to the development of the electronic industry, and the existing various types of electronic products still use their own interfaces, then users must purchase or store a large number of interface lines. After all, with the unified interface legislation, users can only use one data line in the future. The data lines that people use daily are either thrown away or left idle, which is equivalent to generating electronic waste, The EU's unified interface action will help reduce 11000 tons of e-waste annually and reduce the pollution to the earth.
2. In the future, chargers and electronic devices can be sold separately, and manufacturers do not need to make corresponding adaptations. This can help users save 250 million euros annually, and enterprise costs save production costs.
3. It is more convenient for users to purchase and use mobile devices. The previous charging and data made it extremely inconvenient for consumers.
What is the impact of unifying the mobile charging interface?
1. The biggest impact must be Apple icon.
As one of the most important leading mobile electronic device companies in the world, Apple has always used its own data charging cable Lighting interface, which has two problems: (1) It is too expensive. The original Apple Lighting interface cable costs nearly 100 yuan, and other types of wire costs dozens of yuan. (2) Apple's charging is always 20W, which remains unchanged for ten thousand years. The USB Type-C interface has brought great changes to the fast charging. There are various high power options such as 30W, 40W, 65W, 120W and other fast charging options, which are obviously favored by users. Then Apple must change the unified charging interface of the European Union to Type-C, otherwise it may lose the European market. Apple cannot afford this consequence, because Apple's total market share in Europe will be 22% in 2020 and 26% in 2021. After Apple complies with the EU resolution and changes to Type-C interface, its charging line revenue will decrease and its profit will also be affected, because it cannot be sold so expensive.
2. After the emergence of the unified charging line interface regulations in the EU, it will inevitably lead to the introduction of relevant regulations around the world. As for our domestic charging line enterprises in the Apple industry chain, the impact is relatively large. They must switch to Type-C, which will inevitably usher in more fierce competition and make the production conditions more difficult.
