A New Law for a Common Charger
Starting December 28, 2024, the European Union will require that many consumer electronics — including phones, tablets, cameras, headphones, and handheld game consoles — use USB-C as the standard port for wired charging. Laptops will follow in spring 2026.
This legislation, Directive (EU) 2022/2380, is designed to tackle two major issues: electronic waste and consumer frustration.
Why the EU Chose USB-C
USB-C wasn’t chosen at random. It is:
- Widely adopted: Already present in most modern devices.
- Versatile: Supports not just power, but also data and video
- Powerful: With USB Power Delivery (USB PD), it can scale from charging small earbuds to powering high-performance laptops, up to 240 W
By making USB-C the common standard, the EU hopes to reduce the 11,000 tonnes of e-waste per year due to disposed and unused chargers, and save consumers an estimated €250 million annually by eliminating the need for extra chargers.
What This Means for Consumers and Manufacturers
For consumers, it’s a win: one cable to charge nearly everything. For manufacturers, however, it means adjusting product design, testing, and certification to ensure compliance.
Devices will need to:
- Include USB-C ports for charging.
- Support USB PD if the device charges over 15 W.
- Label packaging clearly to indicate charging performance and whether a charger is included.
The Hidden Challenge: Testing and Validation
While consumers will benefit immediately, manufacturers face a technical challenge: proving compliance. Every new phone, headset, or laptop sold in Europe will need to demonstrate that its USB-C implementation is robust, interoperable, and aligned with USB PD standards.
That means companies need tools to simulate real-world conditions: mismatched, broken, or defective chargers, sudden disconnects, power negotiation, and multi-device connectivity scenarios.
Where Acroname Fits In
This is where Acroname can help. Our USB-C hubs and switches already offer:
- Programmable USB PD testing, so engineers can verify power negotiation, current limits, and charging behavior.
- Powerful APIs to integrate into test systems
- Automated port control, making it easy to simulate a variety of device/host setups.
- Industrial-grade reliability, ensuring consistent results in R&D labs or on the factory floor.
For manufacturers preparing for the EU transition, Acroname hubs provide a ready-made way to test and verify USB-C compliance — helping smooth the path from design to market.
Closing Thought
The EU’s mandate is about more than chargers: it’s about shaping a sustainable, simplified future for electronics. For companies, that means adapting now. At Acroname, we’re proud to provide the tools that make this transition easier.
Want to explore how your team can prepare for USB-C compliance? Get in touch with Acroname.
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