Today is the day. Welcome to THE charger!

USB-C is officially the common standard for charging electronic devices in the EU.

This means:

🔌The same charger for all new phones, tablets and cameras
⚡ Harmonised fast-charging technology
🔄 Reduced e-waste
🛑 No more “Sorry, I don’t have the right cable”

One charger to rule them all.

#SingleMarket #DigitalEU

@EUCommission so good. When governments work for people.

@EUCommission

Thank you for this and forcing certain fruit-like companies to use RCS! Digital life is getting better but by bit.

@LiamTRoche @EUCommission China actually forced the fruit company to adopt RCS, not the EU.
@EUCommission great example why we cannot let billionaires decide. Let's hope the voters realize that none of this would be possible without the EU.
#KeepEuropeStrong

@EUCommission Now battery tools!

Imagine in the 80s and 90s if electronic devices had to use batteries from a specific manufacturer. Not being able to put Panasonic AA batteries in a Sony Walkman would seem ludicrous but now everyone is comfortable not been able to put a Makita battery in a Ryobi tool. The cells inside are basically the same.

@gptreb
I found a Sharp mini disc player in a draw the other day that contains a long thin rectangular Sharp NiMH battery. Which I don't remember being a standard shape.

And Sony were the Apple of that time requiring proprietary connectors for everything.

But yes bring on standards for chargers, batteries, etc.

@gptreb Yeah, but (rechargable) batteries have become a lot better. I eventually had to replace my iPhone 8 not because of the battery (still well above 80%), but because it was becoming too slow. Also, there are build penalties for really small devices (IP-rating, ruggedness).

But power tools (and appliances such as vacuums) seems like a good next step. Some (e.g. Milwaukee/Makita) are already compatible, the packs are bigger and the tolerances higher.

@gptreb @EUCommission
I want one charger for all my power tools and electric bikes!
@gptreb @EUCommission *if* you can even change them 🙃

@gptreb @EUCommission
It's not quite the case that each tool manufacturer should have to use the same specifications on how much power a battery can provide.

There's more technology in their batteries than just the individual cells, but I do get your point and have run into the same frustrations.

@gptreb

Isn't it more like trying to use batteries from one laptop computer with a computer from a different manufacturer?

@johnlogic it could be, but high capacity batteries are now a mature technology and some sort of standardization of voltages, currents, form factor, etc, for bulk energy storage seems beneficial. We'd no longer need different chargers, no lock-in to a product range, while not having to worry about replacement batteries if that manufacturer goes out of business turning the tool into e-waste. I figure if they can do it for something as incredibly complex as USB, we should be able to do it for batteries.

@EUCommission

The day has come, finally, victory 💖💖💖

@EUCommission the next step is forcing manufacturers to open up their hardware once it reaches end-of-support. Discarding perfectly functional phones or tablets due to the lack of OS updates is crazy.
@alberto @EUCommission If a technical product is legal to sell in EU it's documentation including software needs to be in the hands of an authority, so that this authority will publish it in case the producer fails to service it, abandons it or goes belly-up.
The documentation needs to include all necessary information for recycling and repairs.
@Ulan_KA @EUCommission that’s nice, but it doesn’t do much for my old phones and tablets stuck on outdated OS versions that can’t run any app anymore. Unlike a PC, you can’t just do something like slapping Linux on them without going through complex and unsupported hacking.

@EUCommission

But, in the darkess, find them ... 😉

@EUCommission Considering the global situation (political, economic, environmental), I'm so glad to be an European. #EU is like democracy -- far from being perfect, but the best we've got.

@EUCommission I wish it was not only the form factor but also the technical details. USB Power Delivery should be mandatory too.

So many devices that technically use USB-C but can't be charged by every charger…

@kaiserkiwi @EUCommission exactly this! Nice that the connector is standard but the protocols beneath that are a mess
@kaiserkiwi @EUCommission Well, do I have good news for you! This legislation includes regulations to harmonize fast-charging technology.
You can read more about it here: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/electrical-and-electronic-engineering-industries-eei/radio-equipment-directive-red/one-common-charging-solution-all_en
The EU common charger

The common charging solution promotes the use of common chargers for mobile phones and other portable electronic devices.

Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

@mrthegood @EUCommission If a device doesn't need fast charging, it doesn't apply though. Fast charging is pointless for most devices so in this case companies still do nonsense.

Just bought a camera for my child with USB C that only works with the USB C charger it came with but not with most others at home.

And yes, now the regulation is active it still gets sold.

@EUCommission

until the next format?

@EUCommission What about laptop/notebook computers - are those covered too or not?
They're required to support USB-C charging, but it doesn't have to be full-speed (e.g. external power brick is 150W, while USB-C charging is just 100W or so)

CC: @[email protected]

Good!

I like my Framework Notebook 16 - comes with a (the first) 180W USB PD charger. Thanks again, @frameworkcomputer!

@patryk @EUCommission

@wonka @EUCommission They are not covered yet. Let's not do everything at once. We will get there step by step.

@wonka @EUCommission They currently are not. The 'common charging' requirements will apply to all handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld videogame consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation systems as of 28 December 2024.

But these requirements will also apply to laptops as of 28 April 2026.

Source: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/electrical-and-electronic-engineering-industries-eei/radio-equipment-directive-red/one-common-charging-solution-all_en

The EU common charger

The common charging solution promotes the use of common chargers for mobile phones and other portable electronic devices.

Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

@EUCommission as a Linux enthusiast I'm still waiting for this law to be implemented.

**There were discussions around unlocking devices (like smartphones and tablets) once manufacturers cease software support.

The idea is that when a device becomes obsolete or unsupported, consumers should be able to access its firmware or repair it without legal or technical barriers.**

We have so many phones laying around that could really benefit everyone in the long term.

@EUCommission Hard disagree with this decision. It forces form-factor compromises that prevent innovation.

Politicians are not technically skilled enough to make these decisions.

Now I have incompatible cables with the same connector (charge only, charge and data, limited bandwidth ones, etc.) and devices that can’t work with proper Power Delivery adapters because they’re really dumb 5V devices and cheap out on the resistors needed to declare that.

@alexr @EUCommission Thanks! Someone here that I agree with!

@alexr

Not that pathetic innovation myth again. 🙄

Feel invited to move elsewhere.

#blocked

@alexr

That is a confused argument: you had those cables and chargers before this became in-force regulation, either having bought them, or having had them supplied with devices that you purchased, by designers or manufacturers who didn't give a shit.

This regulation did not cause that situation.

You're going to have to work hard to come up with good explanation that you can't incorporate a USB-C connector in the same form factor as any existing device that has a lighting connector.

@EUCommission

@BernardSheppard @EUCommission The politicians argued that this was to save waste, but at my home it is generating more. Charge-only cables and inferior cables.

@alexr @EUCommission I much prefer having standards over any new plug "innovation" and thinner devices.

Also all of the problems you mentioned in the last paragraph would also exist if the EU would not have made USB-C mandatory.

The EU *could* address some of those problems by additional regulations, though.

@fabian @EUCommission This problem is so low in my priority list of things for politicians to delve into.

Maybe they could be doing something about Putin having propagandized most nations on the planet to cause strife (Brexit, Trump, etc.) or invading a neighboring country?

Then again I’m in the US which is a frightening dumpster fire, so perhaps you understand why I see this as a low priority.

@alexr @fabian @EUCommission .... These are different departments.... Them doing this has nothing to do with the departments working on Russia related things

@alexr @EUCommission Yes if only companies were free to decide what voltage, frequency and current for their electrical devices, we would have a market really meeting customer needs. 🙄
And if only manufacturers of building products weren't constrained by building regs, then we would have safer buildings.

And when the US repeals its Henry VII-based weights and measures legislation, then the market would naturally embrace the SI system the innovative world uses.

@EUCommission Standardizing chargers is one thing, but I can’t help wondering what the future looks like when everything ends up being dictated by the EU. Where does the line get drawn?
@EUCommission What a joke. Unless I buy all new items (such as satnavs) there are no cables for me to charge them in my car. It's the DEVICE end that's the problem, not the USB.
@valw53 @EUCommission what are you even saying. It's about the devices....
@EUCommission
Suck it Apple.
@EUCommission
For the record: ☝️ verb, object, subject 🤪
@EUCommission Oh yes. EU commission does not know anything about type 2.0, 3..0, 3.1, 3.2, 4.0, TB3, TB4 cables. All the same for them. That's the level of "open for new technologies" in EU ...
@mavori @EUCommission All of those cables will charge your phone as long as they have USB-C. So what is your point?
@EUCommission
- for new devices
We will still have different cables for a decade or two.
Now you only need to force a certain fruit vendor into doing it well and not abuse the standard to release broken garbage...
@EUCommission "one charger to rule them all" doesn't exactly produce the positive vibes your clumsy social media team may have envisioned, but it suits your character well.
@EUCommission but no issue with USB-C as the charger standard, think that's a good one.

@EUCommission

Nice idea, but now EU bureaucracy manifests the technologic backlog even more, instead investing in the next adapter generation. With this thinking Europe falls even more behind the other

@truesocial @EUCommission you instead of locking in on a proven standard. You want them to come up with something brand new that might have various that we'll only see down the line?.
..

@thibaultmol @EUCommission

They should concentrate on things that matter: Immigrationcontrol and border control for people we need and some amounts out of pure mercy, fiscal justice for all (including kings and queens and the super rich with their assets abroad) and economic growth next to energy indipendency with renewables, not such a nitty gritty childish focus.

@truesocial my god... The people who worked on this usb-c stuff aren't the same people working on immigration..... they're completely different departments.

That's like saying: I can't believe the people in the warehouse aren't helping me with my invoices... yeah..of course not ... it's not their department... One doesn't affect the other

@thibaultmol @EUCommission

Thats right: Goverment should focus on general thinks, that matter, not such little things: So you are right, the people who made this job, should have never done this und should have worked on real needs for the public, so get rid of them would be the best and for the people to avoid nonsense und focus for the real needs! Progress, wealth and security, not focusing on issues invented 10 years before and now a technical manifested standard for the next 10-15 years.

@truesocial @EUCommission ..... Firing those people wouldn't miraculously make more people available for working on immigration and such though...

I have a feeling you're coming from Twitter seeing as you recently made your account and you're on the giant mega instance instead of one of the smaller instances....

So just so you know: on mastodon/fedi we encourage people to express their opinions. And you can definitely advocate for the things you are advocating....

@truesocial @EUCommission But just complaining for the sake of complaining is not really something we do here