Every year, more than 400 million external power supplies (EPS) are sold in the EU. In order to improve consumer convenience as well as resource and energy efficiency, the European Commission has revised the ecodesign requirements for these products. Manufacturers will have three years to prepare for the upcoming changes.
The new rules apply to devices that charge or supply electricity to other equipment such as laptops, smartphones, wireless routers, and computer monitors. Chargers will have to meet higher energy efficiency standards and be more interoperable – for example, all USB chargers placed on the EU market will be required to have at least one USB Type-C port and to work with detachable cables.
This measure is expected to lead to 3% annual energy savings over the entire life cycle of EPS by 2035. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions associated with them will be reduced by 9%, and related pollutant emissions by around 13%. Consumer costs could decrease by about EUR 100 million per year by 2035.
All devices covered by the new interoperability rules will be marked with the EU common charger logo – a distinctive visual element designed to inform consumers and make it easier to identify compatibility between chargers and powered devices.
Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen stated:
“Having common chargers for our smartphones, laptops and other devices we use every day is a smart move that puts consumers first while reducing energy losses and emissions. The practical change we are introducing today regarding external power supplies will help Europeans save money while lowering environmental impact. This proves that innovation can drive both progress and responsibility. With this initiative, the EU aims to shape a future where technology works better – for people and for the planet.”
Background
he Decision builds on the harmonisation of charging ports and fast charging technology for devices like smartphones, tablets or laptops under the revised Radio Equipment Directive. These additional changes to the Ecodesign Regulation for EPS put forward corresponding requirements for their chargers, and a more widespread usage of the Common Charger in general. This is expected to lead to additional 35 to 40% of the EU EPS market becoming interoperable on top of the approximately 50% that are already assumed to be because of the Radio Equipment Directive.
The new regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union in the coming weeks and enter into force 20 days later. The new rules will become applicable 3 years after that i.e. at the end of 2028.
