On this subject, draft legislation is currently being studied by the European Commission.
It would require manufacturers to systematically offer smartphone models equipped with removable batteries, which are much easier to change. These batteries will also have to retain at least 80% of their capacity after 1,000 charging cycles.
This proposal is expected to be studied by the end of the year and could, at best, come into force one year later.
For many manufacturers, the issue of battery life is central to their strategy.
The Chinese manufacturer Oppo, for example, conducted internal studies on battery wear and developed a technology that is able to keep a battery at more than 80% of its original capacity, even after 1,600 charging cycles – or more than four years of daily use.
The Chinese manufacturer boasts that its latest model, the Reno8 Pro, has the longest-lasting battery on the market.
Over time, some active lithium ions become inactive, or “die,” if they are subjected to excessive current or overcharging, for example. It is the accumulation of these dead lithium ions that gradually leads to a decrease in the battery’s capacity.
Based on this observation, Oppo has developed an algorithm-based solution that prevents this risk of overheating by monitoring the battery’s current and voltage in real time. Thanks to these measurements, the smartphone itself can manage the quality and duration of each recharging process, for even better performance and longevity.
The aim is to avoid having to replace the battery after two or three years, or even to replace a smartphone completely. As such, in laboratories around the world, researchers are looking at ways to optimise the lifespan of batteries.
In the United States, a start-up called NDB is working on small, virtually everlasting batteries, based on nano-diamonds. Its researchers are talking about a lifespan of over 20,000 years!
This new technology could benefit smartphones, but also other electronic devices. These mini-batteries also have the advantage of being self-charging.
The quest for batteries that never run out of power is a major challenge for the future, and for shaping a world that’s more sustainable.