Photo: Markus Winkler | Unsplash
Europeans will soononly need to reach for one cable to charge their smartphones and other devices. By fall 2024, after new rules get formal agreement, the European Union will require a uniform charging cord in the 27-nation bloc. EU consumers will only need a common USB Type-C cable for small and medium-sized rechargeable, portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and e-readers. Laptops also are covered, but manufacturers will have extra time to comply. Consumers will save an estimated 250 million euros ($266 million) because they can choose to buy new devices with or without a charger. Waste will also be reduced as chargers account for 11,000 metric tons of e-waste in Europe every year. For more than a decade, the EU tried to persuade industry to adopt a common charging standard before forcing the issue with draft legislation last September.
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