Europe plan will require removable batteries in gadgets

The European Union is preparing to clamp down once again on gadget technology, this time with a rule that will require all electronic devices to have "readily removable" batteries in order to aid with the region's aggressive recycling goals and keep gadgets from being tossed in the garbage wholesale for want of a charge. By 2012 the EU wants 25 percent of all portable batteries recycled and 45 percent by 2016.

Square in the crosshairs of the rule is the bulk of Apple's mobile product line: The MacBook Air, iPhone, and every iPod ever made has a sealed case containing the battery which the customer can't access. Many other very small MP3 players (on par with the Shuffle) are similarly encumbered and will take significant re-engineering in order to design for battery removability.

But this has to be the biggest affront to Apple, which has endured years of complaints and even class action lawsuits over its steadfast determination not to let you replace the battery in your iPod. Will a major world power finally force Apple's hand where millions of consumers have failed?

The rule isn't finalized, but there don't appear to be any real obstacles in the way of its adoption in environmentally-obsessed Europe. But even the threat of this legislation should be enough to put any sensible company (ahem) on notice that it's time to get with the times: Users want replaceable batteries. Activists want replaceable batteries. Resellers want replaceable batteries. What's the hold-up?

Photo (of an unsanctioned third-party iPhone battery kit) courtesy Gizmodo