據外媒報道，歐盟委員會正式提出一項議案，將USB-C作為智慧手機、平板電腦、耳機、行動式音箱、攝像頭和一些電子遊戲機的標準介面。此舉旨在減少充電器生產相關的浪費。顯然，此舉對蘋果公司的影響最大。
[Photo/Unsplash]
Manufacturers will be forced to create a universal charging solution for phones and small electronic devices, under a new rule proposed by the European Commission (EC).
根據歐盟委員會（EC）提出的新規，製造商將被迫為手機和小型電子裝置提供通用充電解決方案。
The aim is to reduce waste by encouraging consumers to re-use existing chargers when buying a new device.
其目的是透過鼓勵消費者在購買新裝置時重複使用現有充電裝置來減少浪費。
All smartphones sold in the EU must have USB-C chargers, the proposal said.
該提案稱，在歐盟銷售的所有智慧手機都必須配備USB-C充電器。
Apple has warned such a move would harm innovation.
蘋果公司警告，此舉將遏制創新。
The tech giant is the main manufacturer of smartphones using a custom charging port, as its iPhone series uses an Apple-made "Lightning" connector.
蘋果公司生產的智慧手機使用定製充電埠，其iPhone系列使用蘋果製造的“閃電”連線線。
[Photo/Unsplash]
"We remain concerned that strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world," the firm told the BBC.
蘋果公司告訴英國廣播公司：“我們堅持認為，嚴格規定只能使用一種連線線會扼殺創新，而不是鼓勵創新，這反而會損害歐洲和世界各地消費者的利益。”
Most Android phones come with USB micro-B charging ports, or have already moved to the more modern USB-C standard.
大多數安卓手機都配有USB micro-B充電埠，或者已經更新為更現代的USB-C埠。
New models of the iPad and MacBook use USB-C charging ports, as do high-end phone models from popular Android manufacturers such as Samsung and Huawei.
iPad和MacBook的新機型使用USB-C充電埠，三星和華為等知名高階安卓手機制造商也使用USB-C充電埠。
The changes would apply to the charging port on the device body, whereas the end of the cable connecting to a plug could be USB-C or USB-A.
規定要求裝置主體上的充電埠需要更改為USB-C，而連線到插頭的電纜端可以是USB-C或USB-A。
Around half of chargers sold with mobile phones in the European Union in 2018 had a USB micro-B connector, while 29% had a USB-C connector and 21% a Lightning connector, a Commission impact assessment study in 2019 found.
歐盟委員會2019年的一項影響評估研究發現，2018年在歐盟銷售的手機充電器中，約有一半採用USB micro-B介面，29%採用USB-C介面，21%採用“閃電”介面。
The proposed rules will apply to:
新規提案將適用於：
smartphones智慧手機
tablets平板電腦
cameras照相機
headphones耳機
portable speakers行動式音箱
handheld video game consoles手持電子遊戲機
Other products including earbuds, smart-watches and fitness trackers were not considered for technical reasons linked to size and use conditions.嵌入式耳機、智慧手錶和健身追蹤器等產品由於受尺寸和使用條件等技術原因限制不在適用範圍內。
The proposal also standardizes fast charging speeds - meaning devices capable of fast charging will be charged at the same speeds.
該提案還對快速充電速度進行了標準化，這意味著能夠快速充電的裝置將以相同的速度充電。
Preventing waste
防止浪費
EU politicians have been campaigning for a common standard for over a decade, with the Commission's research estimating that disposed of and unused charging cables generate more than 11,000 tonnes of waste per year.
十多年來，歐盟政客一直在為通用標準而努力，歐盟委員會的研究估計，廢棄和未使用的充電線每年會產生超過11000噸的廢物。
In the European Union, around 420 million mobile phones and other portable electronic devices were sold in the last year.
在歐盟，2020年銷售了約4.2億部手機和其他行動式電子裝置。
The average person owns around three mobile phone chargers, of which they use two regularly.
普通人大約有三個手機充電器，其中兩個經常使用。
In 2009, there were more than 30 different chargers, whereas now most models stick to three - the USB-C, Lightning and USB micro-B.
2009年，共有30多種不同的充電器，而現在大多數手機型號都使用三種——USB-C、“閃電”和USB micro-B。
It may be a number of years before the proposals come into effect.
這項提案可能需要若干年才能生效。
The legislative proposal, known as a Directive, will be debated by the European Parliament and national governments.
歐洲議會和各國政府將針對這項指令進行辯論。
MEPs and member states may suggest amendments to the proposal. Only once the EC has agreed these amendments, will the directive be enacted.
歐洲議會議員和成員國可對提案提出修改意見。只有在歐盟委員會同意這些修改意見後，該指令才能透過。
The EC hopes that will happen in 2022 - after which member states usually have two years to enact the rules into national law, and manufacturers will have 24 months to change their charging ports.
歐盟委員會希望在2022年頒佈該指令——此後，成員國一般有兩年的時間將該項指令寫入本國法律，製造商將有24個月的時間更換充電埠。
"We gave industry plenty of time to come up with their own solutions, now time is ripe for legislative action for a common charger. This is an important win for our consumers and environment and in line with our green and digital ambitions," Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager said.
歐盟委員會副主席瑪格麗特·維斯塔格表示：“我們給了業界足夠的時間來提出他們自己的解決方案，現在採取立法行動統一充電器的時機已經成熟。這對我們的消費者和環境來說是一個重要的勝利，符合我們的綠色和數字化發展目標。”
來源：英國廣播公司編輯：董靜
來源：中國日報網
