This week the European Parliament voted on an amendment originally submitted to the European Commission in 2020, concerning regulation on batteries; Parliament voted in favor of making batteries more sustainable, as well as removable and replaceable, which is key to extending the life of electronic devices sold in Europe.
The European Parliament wants a longer life for electronic devices by replacing batteries
It is clear that the vote in question represents only a first step, it will take some time before a regulation can be issued by the European Council, moreover, it is not certain that this will automatically translate into the possibility for the user to replace the batteries of your devices at any time.
The desired regulation will, in fact, cover various aspects of batteries including the carbon footprint from production, collection, recycling, the use of recycled content, clear labeling and general due diligence (i.e. the activity of investigation and in-depth analysis of data and information).
All of this obviously has as its primary purpose the protection of the environment, in fact, batteries are present in various products, from smartphones to scooters, to electric cars, passing through the energy storage systems of smart grids, guaranteeing all these devices a longer life span would lead to avoiding unnecessary waste, with consequent benefits for the environment.
As regards consumer electronic devices and light means of transport, the possibility of replacement by the user is requested, preventing manufacturers from marketing devices with integrated batteries; in the field of e-bikes and electric scooters, it is required to allow substitutability by independent repairers, as well as a ban on manufacturers to install software to block the replacement of batteries or other components.
Furthermore, Parliament requests that batteries for consumer electronics and light transport vehicles be available as spare parts for at least 10 years from the start of commercialization.
All this is in line with everything concerning the ” right to reparation”, but it is clear that there is still a long way to go; the negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament will take some time, a final decision could be taken during the Environment Council on 17 March and the new regulation could already be adopted in 2022.
However, the effective entry into force is initially estimated by the Parliament for 2024, to which, however, 12-24 months of delay must be added to allow the long adaptation processes by producers; at best, therefore, it will not be applicable before 2026.