UK Considers Adopting USB-C as Common Charging Standard

[MacRumors]

The UK government has launched a consultation to explore the possibility of mandating USB-C as the standard charging port for electronic devices, potentially aligning with similar regulations recently adopted by the European Union.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards, part of the Department for Business and Trade, is seeking input from manufacturers, importers, distributors, and trade associations on the potential benefits and challenges of implementing a common charging standard across the UK.

This move comes after the EU passed legislation in 2022 requiring most portable electronic devices to use USB-C for charging by December 2024. The EU's decision aimed to reduce electronic waste and improve charger interoperability.

The UK government, which previously stated it was not considering similar rules, is now exploring whether adopting USB-C as a standard would benefit businesses, consumers, and the environment. The consultation will run for eight weeks, ending on December 4, 2024.

Key points under consideration include:

• Standardizing USB-C as the common charging port
• Implementing harmonized fast-charging technology
• Allowing consumers to purchase devices without chargers
• Introducing labeling requirements for charging information

The government acknowledges that many manufacturers of smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, and laptops have already adopted USB-C for the UK market voluntarily to avoid supply chain complexities. For example, Apple, which long resisted changing its proprietary Lightning port, adopted USB-C for new iPhones last year, while the last few Lightning products are likely to make the transition next year. However, the government says it seeks to understand the implications of formally implementing such requirements.

Notably, the new iPad mini, announced on Tuesday, will not include a charger in the box for several European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. The change is likely in response to EU regulations regarding electronic waste, but even some European countries that are not part of the EU are impacted.

Article Link: UK Considers Adopting USB-C as Common Charging Standard

 

[StoneJack]

Charging standard is fine.
But there is also accessories standard.
Would be nice to have chargers and accessories on USB-C

 

[SanderEvers]

Allowing consumers to purchase devices without chargers

So again, allowing companies to charge users more when buying products to pay seperately for chargers. The same idiotic version the EU also has.

 

[doobydoooby]

Why would they bother? The EU directive is already going to force manufacturers to act, so its kinda superfluous for the UK to speak up now. Seems like pointless bureaucracy

 

[kirky29]

I'm certainly all for a common standard, just as long as we can keep on improving it and it's not stifled by 'Government'

 

[davwil]

I support this. Complying with an EU directive can only make sense. 🇪🇺
The big problem in the UK is all the transport infrastructure with USB A at the seats.
Forcing the bus operators and train rolling stock operators to upgrade everything is key to making this happen.

 

[Doodah7]

Typical post-Brexit idiocy from the UK. I see it in work all the time, whenever the EU puts in place a new Regulation, the UK come trundling along afterwards and put the same laws in place to make sure they are not out of step with the rest of Europe. So much for Brexit!!! It's cost them billions of pounds for nothing!! I say all this as an ardent pro-EU European.

 

[polyphenol]

Allowing consumers to purchase devices without chargers

So again, allowing companies to charge users more when buying products to pay seperately for chargers. The same idiotic version the EU also has.

But I don't want any more manufacturer-supplied charges!

If we continue to get one charger for each device, we also need one socket for each charger (in concurrent use). Whereas I have some chargers with multiple USB-C sockets and they will occupy just one mains outlet for several devices.

I would, though, appreciate the price being lower as the manufacturer does not have to include a charger, saving on cost of charger, packaging and distribution costs.

 

[gphome]

Why would they bother? The EU directive is already going to force manufacturers to act, so its kinda superfluous for the UK to speak up now. Seems like pointless bureaucracy

I agree, to think that we in the UK can mandate anything to large tech companies is delusional. If we tried to mandate anything different from the Americans or EU, Google/apple/Samsung would politely tell us to eff off

 

[rorydaredking]

Why would they bother? The EU directive is already going to force manufacturers to act, so its kinda superfluous for the UK to speak up now. Seems like pointless bureaucracy

It's absolute nonsense that will only serve to funnel money to various consultancies to do millions of pounds worth of 'analysis'.

 

[krakman]

So previously we had several different cables/connectors which performed different tasks such as charging, data transfer and video signal.

The proposed solution is to have a single connector but with different cable performing several different tasks such as charging, data transfer and video signal.


USB-C cable can be any of the following...

1. Power Delivery but no data
2. USB 2.0
3. USB 3.1 Gen 1
4. USB 3.1 Gen 2
5. USB 4
6. Thunderbolt 3
7. Thunderbolt 4

I have drawer full of USB-C Cables that work with some devices but not others, even though the packaging claims the cable is up to spec.

If the Gov really wanted to cut down on e-waste then they should impose some kind of quality control on the Cheap Chinese Crap that is flooding the market, but that is too simple!

 

[danskin]

I'm certainly all for a common standard, just as long as we can keep on improving it and it's not stifled by 'Government'

We will end up still using usb-c in 2040.......

 

[brofkand]

It seems unnecessary at this point frankly. Even the motorized laser I bought for my cat uses USB-C to charge. Now that Apple has been forced to give up Lightning, what's left using proprietary chargers, at least in the tech space?

 

[brofkand]

So previously we had several different cables/connectors which performed different tasks such as charging, data transfer and video signal.

The proposed solution is to have a single connector but with different cable performing several different tasks such as charging, data transfer and video signal.


USB-C cable can be any of the following...

1. Power Delivery but no data
2. USB 2.0
3. USB 3.1 Gen 1
4. USB 3.1 Gen 2
5. USB 4
6. Thunderbolt 3
7. Thunderbolt 4

I have drawer full of USB-C Cables that work with some devices but not others, even though the packaging claims the cable is up to spec.

If the Gov really wanted to cut down on e-waste then they should impose some kind of quality control on the Cheap Chinese Crap that is flooding the market, but that is too simple!

Seems like a skill issue to me. Don't buy cables from companies like AONAAF or other "brands" on Amazon with names that look like what happens when your cat walks across your keyboard. Matter of fact, don't use Amazon at all anymore. It's basically just a US-based Ali Express at this point.

 

[brofkand]

We will end up still using usb-c in 2040.......

Is that a problem?

 

[coredev]

I would, though, appreciate the price being lower as the manufacturer does not have to include a charger, saving on cost of charger, packaging and distribution costs.

It's not that the same product suddenly no longer comes with a bundled charger, so its difficult to tell what the right cost savings is. When a new device comes out and has no longer a charger in the box, the price is calculated accordingly, but also the component prices for new features could have increased, there is inflation to consider, so the customer cannot really say whether the manufacturer is passing on savings, and to what extent.

 

[Antwan86]

I support this. Complying with an EU directive can only make sense. 🇪🇺
The big problem in the UK is all the transport infrastructure with USB A at the seats.
Forcing the bus operators and train rolling stock operators to upgrade everything is key to making this happen.

Thanks god there are USB-A to USB-C cables.

 

[cicalinarrot]

I agree, to think that we in the UK can mandate anything to large tech companies is delusional. If we tried to mandate anything different from the Americans or EU, Google/apple/Samsung would politely tell us to eff off

Yeah, who's ever gonna make big modifications to their products to sell almost exclusively in the UK like, let's say... right-hand drive cars.

 

[SanderEvers]

But I don't want any more manufacturer-supplied charges!

If we continue to get one charge for each device, we also need one socket for each charger (in concurrent use). Whereas I have some chargers with multiple USB-C sockets and they will occupy just one mains outlet for several devices.

I would, though, appreciate the price being lower as the manufacturer does not have to include a charger, saving on cost of charger, packaging and distribution costs.

Very simple companies should be required to add a voucher to the box that says "Exchange this for a € 20 discount or a charger for your product with a minimum wattage of XX WATT and XX Volt" (to be specified by the manufacturer). And when bought in store or online this purchaser should be allowed to exchange this voucher during the purchase experience. (Or later if they chose for a voucher either physical or digital)

The wattage of the charger should be sufficient to charge the purchased device at max charge speed.

 

[coredev]

We will end up still using usb-c in 2040.......

Is that a problem?

Since USB-C is just a form factor and not a protocol, it might be fine.
I still use USB-A for some devices, where it still does the job.

 

[markfc]

How about a single standard plug for EV’s?

 

[coredev]

Very simple companies should be required to add a voucher to the box that says "Exchange this for a € 20 discount or a charger for your product with a minimum wattage of XX WATT and XX Volt" (to be specified by the manufacturer). And when bought in store or online this purchaser should be allowed to exchange this voucher during the purchase experience. (Or later if they chose for a voucher either physical or digital)

The wattage of the charger should be sufficient to charge the purchased device at max charge speed.

Yeah, no way.
Your idea sounds easy and beneficial from the customers perspective, but would mean a whole lot of overhead validating vouchers, balancing purchases, legal issues with shops not accepting the voucher because of the overhead, etc.
Just because phones came with a charger in the past does not mean this cannot change. A lot of other devices don't come with bundled chargers, most of my smart home devices don't.
I understand the argument that for the high price of an iPhone, people (especially those active here in the forum) currently expect to not pay extra for a charging brick, but that's exactly what the EU wants to change, so there will be less unneeded/unused chargers produced, distributed, and sent to landfills eventually.

 

[coredev]

How about a single standard plug for EV’s?

EU has that already.
Well, tbh there are two, one for fast (DC) charging, one for AC charging.

 

[iPadified]

I'm certainly all for a common standard, just as long as we can keep on improving it and it's not stifled by 'Government'

If the industry had converged to a standard and developed that by themself, the government did not need to do anything.

These vendor lock-ins are only a way to ripoff customers. Next battle will be charging posts for EV. Sure EU seem to have the same connector (thank you EC) but you need to find "your" vendor posts to get benefits otherwise pay in full. Why? EC please step up. Same thing with roaming in EU. Expansive before EC stepped in. Curiously the vendors are doing just fine despite the "loss" of overcharging customers for being in another country. Some say regulate, I say levelling the playing field.

If the private sector had some real price competition and some overall view what is best for the planet and the customer instead of just the bottom line, governments did not need to waste time on obvious things. Alas that is not how the private sector is put together.

 

[brofkand]

How about a single standard plug for EV’s?

SAE J3400