All mobile phones in the EU to have same charging port from 2024: “A good day for Norwegian consumers”

Mobile phones and several other types of consumer electronics in the EU will have to support the same type of charging equipment (USB-C) from 2024. 

USB-C is the type of charger that is currently used for Android phones, and it will become the standard from the end of 2024, after the European Parliament and the 27 EU member states agreed on the issue.

According to the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, the agreement applies to mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, and several other types of electronics.

In addition, the Committee wants to, among other things, ensure common fast charging technology.

Apple has been particularly critical of a common charging standard. The company claims that it will stop innovation.

Norwegian Consumer Council: We’re very happy with the decision

Norway Today reached out to the Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) for a comment on the decision. The technical director at the NCC, Olav Kasland, told Norway Today that the decision will positively impact consumers in Norway.

“We are very happy with the decision. We have worked together with the EU on this problem for consumers. Just look in your drawer, and see how many chargers you find there… Of course, when you need a specific one, you won’t find it. So this is a very good decision for consumers and the environment,” Kasland says, adding that Apple will now have to adjust.

“Of course, it will also make life much easier for consumers in Norway as well. Apple is not very happy – they had their own way of doing things, but if they want to sell to Europe and Norway (due to the EEA), they have to adjust. It’s a good day for Norwegian consumers.”

Other standardization areas

Kasland also pointed to several other areas where he believes “standardization” of this type could benefit consumers in Norway. 

“There are always a lot of areas that can be regulated… Standardization can come about in two ways. The first is through laws, when lawmakers tell us how to behave and where we should have certain standards. The second one is when companies, consumers, and shareholders come to an agreement – but that’s a two-way street. 

“When it comes to reaching an agreement on standards, we would like to see that with the ‘green shift’ all over the world, in the EU and Europe. There are plenty of things that could make it easier for consumers to participate in the ‘green shift.’ One example would be repairing items instead of throwing them away. Hardly anyone goes to the shop and repairs their TV when it stops working – they buy a new one. We would like to see more items repaired, as would the EU. 

“There might be obstacles, things that are different from country to country; we have to go through them to see what we need to standardize. Another example can be found in electric cars – they are a challenge even in Norway. There are many different approaches to electric cars among electric car companies. We would like to see standardization, for example, when it comes to communication standards on how far electric cars can drive under different conditions. Some manufacturers communicate the distance but fail to mention how conditions such as temperature affect the range,” Kasland said.

Robin-Ivan Capar is a contributor and editor at Norway Today.

Source : #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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