European Union Directive Could Force Replaceable iPhone Batteries

The iPhone, like with the iPod and MacBook Air, lacks a user-replaceable battery. Environmentalists have expressed considerable discontent with the iPhone and iPod, as their large unit shipments translate to the potential for significant waste.

Now the European Union is seeking to change their "Batteries Directive". These changes could force Apple to modify its products to be more consumer and environmentally friendly. The changes would make it easier for consumers to remove, replace, dispose of, or recycle old batteries. Currently companies must only make batteries easier to remove. Ironically the iPhone 3G is the first Apple product of it's type to offer external screws making the battery and the rest of the phone easier to access.

The new version of the directive would force Apple to design and build products with batteries that are easy to remove. If changes to the directive are passed then future versions of the iPod and iPhone would have to be redesigned to accommodate the new rules.