Common Charger in India: One device-one charger discussion has been going on for many days in European countries. In India, nobody seems to be complaining about device-charger or common charger yet, but now there are reports that the Indian government is thinking about common charger. According to the report, a meeting has been organized on August 17 in which officials from the technology sector and consumer affairs ministry will participate. In this meeting, the subject of common charger will be discussed.

What is a Common Charger?

A common charger is a universal charging device that can be used with multiple electronic devices, regardless of their make or model. This means that consumers will no longer have to buy a different charger for each device they own, which will help reduce the amount of e-waste generated.

Why India is Moving Towards a Common Charger?

The move towards a common charger in India is driven by a number of factors, including:

• Environmental Concerns: India generates a significant amount of e-waste each year, and this is expected to increase as more people adopt electronic devices. The government is keen to address this issue, and a common charger is seen as one way to reduce the amount of e-waste generated.
• Consumer Convenience: A common charger will make it easier for consumers to charge their devices, as they will only need one charger to use with all their devices. This will reduce the clutter of multiple chargers and cables, making it more convenient for users.
• Cost Savings: A common charger will also reduce the cost of purchasing chargers for each device, potentially leading to cost savings for consumers.

Regulations and Implementation of Common Charger

The Indian government has already started the process of implementing a common charger for mobile phones, with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) announcing a new set of standards for mobile phone chargers in 2018. These standards require that all mobile phones in India use a common charger with a Micro-USB connector.

The move towards a common charger for laptops is also gaining momentum, with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) announcing a plan to introduce a common charger for laptops in India. The BEE has set up a committee to develop the technical specifications for the common charger, and it is expected that these will be finalized soon.

Challenges and Benefits

Implementing a common charger in India will not be without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges will be getting manufacturers to adopt the new standard, as they may have to modify their products to comply with the regulations.

However, there are also significant benefits to be gained from implementing a common charger, including:

• Reduced E-waste: A common charger will reduce the amount of e-waste generated, as consumers will no longer have to dispose of multiple chargers when they upgrade their devices.
• Convenience: A common charger will make it easier for consumers to charge their devices, as they will only need one charger to use with all their devices.
• Cost Savings: A common charger will reduce the cost of purchasing chargers for each device, potentially leading to cost savings for consumers.

All the mobile manufacturing companies are also going to participate in this meeting. At present, there are many types of chargers in India which are meant for different devices. The most popular Type-C charger is followed by Micro USB and then Apple’s Lightning charger.

Recently, the European Union has announced the adoption of the USB Type-C port as a common charger, which will start from 2024 which means that in 2024, all devices sold in European countries will support only the Type-C port. A similar announcement has been made in the United States.

According to a PTI report, a government official said that when all companies can offer the same type of charger in America and Europe, why not in India. He said that if there is no pressure from the Indian government regarding the common charger, all the chargers from America and Europe will be brought to the Indian market.

In present scenario, for every new device (smartphone, laptop, other gadgets) user has to buy a new type of charger. If the government decides to adopt a common charger, it will be convenient for people and multiple devices can be charged from one charger. Most of the complaints about the charger are from iPhone and Android users.

According to one report, half of all chargers sold in the US in 2018 were USB Micro B chargers, while 29 percent were Type-C chargers and 21 percent were Lightning chargers, meaning 21 percent of devices were Apple, since only Apple uses the Lightning port.

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