6 ms·

EU parliament passes law on user replaceable batteries

31 points by kiesewetter 3y ago

PaulHoule 3y ago
Myself I am a fan of the NiMH rechargeables in AA and AAA format. My dental hygienist wanted me to get an electric toothbrush, I found the bottom-of-the-line model that takes AA batteries for about $15 less than a model with an integrated battery which is totally easy to use with NiMH batteries. I also had some old FRS radios https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Radio_Service https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Radio_Service that I took out of mothballs. These had proprietary battery packs that can be replaced with AA's or AAA's, I found the old battery packs had gone bad but breathed new life in them with NiMH batteries.
throwaway81523 3y ago
And to debunk the canard about replaceable batteries preventing phones from being waterproof: the Samsung S5 was waterproof and had a replaceable battery, as did decades of police and marine walkie talkies and GPS, and a century of outdoor flashlights. I would accept that it costs a little bit of space inside the phone, interfering with Steve Jobs' dream of a paper thin phone the size of a cigarette lighter. But today, Jobs is gone and people like big phones, so it is fine. I would even be happy with a thick phone powered by a couple of 18650's instead of a pouch cell. Note that per the article, it is ok for replacing the battery to require simple tools (e.g. a small screwdriver). So that makes weather sealing even easier, since you can put a gasket around the battery door and tighten the door down with a screw. That is how my old AA-powered Garmin GPS works, more or less, though you don't need tools to undo the screw.
- 3nt3 3y ago
  > thick phone powered by a couple of 18650 that _would_ be too thick for most people I think (think of average pocket sizes), but a little bit of extra thickness would probably be accepted judging by the thickness of some phone cases
kiesewetter 3y ago
Better link: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230609IPR96210/making-batteries-more-sustainable-more-durable-and-better-performing https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230609IP...
cbeach 3y ago
Goodbye waterproof phones :-(
- hulitu 3y ago
  There are waterproof product which can be opened and serviced.
- pajko 3y ago
  Galaxy S5 Active had replaceable battery and yet waterproof enough to make not-too-deep underwater photos.
- pjmlp 3y ago
  Nokia has had waterproof phones for ages since the Symbian/Series 30 days, with replacable batteries, used by construction workers.
- Z7YCx5ieof4Std 3y ago
  Just buy an OtterBox or don't use the phone near water I'd rather have replaceable parts than a waterproof phone.
  - tinus_hn 3y ago
    So because your preference is different, everyone should be forced to conform?
    - _piif 3y ago
      Yes, they should. (Obviously not but OP's argument is moot anyways as waterproofing and a replaceable battery are not mutually exclusive, we already had phones and other devices with both)
  - dzhiurgis 3y ago
    I wouldn't. My iPhone has been caseless for ~3 years. Dings, falls, 3 drownings, small kids just brushing it against pavement, etc. It's feels indestructible other than few scratches that you need to look for. Battery can be replaced by specialist in 30 minutes or so. Wasn't it waterproof it already would've wasted 3 batteries + 3 devices.
ojkelly 3y ago
I wonder if Apple's self-service repair program is sufficient for this? I do like the idea of user-replaceable batteries, but I don't miss the build quality and size of those devices with easily accessible batteries.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
Someone 3y ago
FTA: “By 2024, portable batteries in appliances, such as smartphones, and batteries for LMT must be designed so that consumers and independent operators can easily and safely remove them themselves, MEPs say” I do not read anything about replacing batteries there. However, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220202IPR22435/meps-want-to-strengthen-new-eu-rules-for-batteries https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220202IP... is clear, saying “By 2024, portable batteries in appliances, such as smartphones, and batteries for LMT must be designed for easy and safe removal and replacement by consumers or independent operators” From skimming https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2020/0798/COM_COM(2020)0798_EN.pdf https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_instituti..., it seems it says the same. Now, the question is how to interpret that “or” in that latest sentence. I think it leaves open the option to have devices that consumers cannot service on their own, but require help from an independent operator.

31 points by kiesewetter 3y ago

Myself I am a fan of the NiMH rechargeables in AA and AAA format. My dental hygienist wanted me to get an electric toothbrush, I found the bottom-of-the-line model that takes AA batteries for about $15 less than a model with an integrated battery which is totally easy to use with NiMH batteries. I also had some old FRS radios https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Radio_Service https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Radio_Service that I took out of mothballs. These had proprietary battery packs that can be replaced with AA's or AAA's, I found the old battery packs had gone bad but breathed new life in them with NiMH batteries.

throwaway81523 3y ago

And to debunk the canard about replaceable batteries preventing phones from being waterproof: the Samsung S5 was waterproof and had a replaceable battery, as did decades of police and marine walkie talkies and GPS, and a century of outdoor flashlights. I would accept that it costs a little bit of space inside the phone, interfering with Steve Jobs' dream of a paper thin phone the size of a cigarette lighter. But today, Jobs is gone and people like big phones, so it is fine. I would even be happy with a thick phone powered by a couple of 18650's instead of a pouch cell. Note that per the article, it is ok for replacing the battery to require simple tools (e.g. a small screwdriver). So that makes weather sealing even easier, since you can put a gasket around the battery door and tighten the door down with a screw. That is how my old AA-powered Garmin GPS works, more or less, though you don't need tools to undo the screw.

3nt3 3y ago
> thick phone powered by a couple of 18650 that _would_ be too thick for most people I think (think of average pocket sizes), but a little bit of extra thickness would probably be accepted judging by the thickness of some phone cases

kiesewetter 3y ago

Better link: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230609IPR96210/making-batteries-more-sustainable-more-durable-and-better-performing https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230609IP...

cbeach 3y ago

Goodbye waterproof phones :-(

hulitu 3y ago
There are waterproof product which can be opened and serviced.
pajko 3y ago
Galaxy S5 Active had replaceable battery and yet waterproof enough to make not-too-deep underwater photos.
pjmlp 3y ago
Nokia has had waterproof phones for ages since the Symbian/Series 30 days, with replacable batteries, used by construction workers.
Z7YCx5ieof4Std 3y ago
Just buy an OtterBox or don't use the phone near water I'd rather have replaceable parts than a waterproof phone.
- tinus_hn 3y ago
  So because your preference is different, everyone should be forced to conform?
  - _piif 3y ago
    Yes, they should. (Obviously not but OP's argument is moot anyways as waterproofing and a replaceable battery are not mutually exclusive, we already had phones and other devices with both)
- dzhiurgis 3y ago
  I wouldn't. My iPhone has been caseless for ~3 years. Dings, falls, 3 drownings, small kids just brushing it against pavement, etc. It's feels indestructible other than few scratches that you need to look for. Battery can be replaced by specialist in 30 minutes or so. Wasn't it waterproof it already would've wasted 3 batteries + 3 devices.

ojkelly 3y ago

I wonder if Apple's self-service repair program is sufficient for this? I do like the idea of user-replaceable batteries, but I don't miss the build quality and size of those devices with easily accessible batteries.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

Someone 3y ago

FTA: “By 2024, portable batteries in appliances, such as smartphones, and batteries for LMT must be designed so that consumers and independent operators can easily and safely remove them themselves, MEPs say” I do not read anything about replacing batteries there. However, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220202IPR22435/meps-want-to-strengthen-new-eu-rules-for-batteries https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220202IP... is clear, saying “By 2024, portable batteries in appliances, such as smartphones, and batteries for LMT must be designed for easy and safe removal and replacement by consumers or independent operators” From skimming https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2020/0798/COM_COM(2020)0798_EN.pdf https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_instituti..., it seems it says the same. Now, the question is how to interpret that “or” in that latest sentence. I think it leaves open the option to have devices that consumers cannot service on their own, but require help from an independent operator.