iOS 16.1 Beta Adds Clean Energy Charging Option to iPhone

[MacRumors]

The iOS 16.1 beta that was provided to developers today introduces a new Clean Energy Charging feature, which is designed to help iPhone users cut down on their carbon footprint.

Available in the Battery section of the Settings app, Clean Energy Charging selectively charges when lower carbon emission electricity is available in an effort to provide a more green charging method.

Apple says that the iPhone will still reach a full charge before it's needed based on a user's daily routine, and the feature can be toggled off if desired. It is enabled by default.

Apple first mentioned the Clean Energy Charging feature with the launch of iOS 16, adding it as an upcoming option.

Article Link: iOS 16.1 Beta Adds Clean Energy Charging Option to iPhone

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Not gonna lie, that's pretty clever. And they didn't need to add it either!

 

[zorinlynx]

Most people charge overnight. Most clean energy sources peak during the day (solar, wind, etc.) How is this going to do much of any good?

 

[blacktape242]

so no charging in china or india? I mean they are the LEAST "green" right?

 

[1800AirTAG]

Electric vehicles should adopt this 😂

 

[Lexdexia]

Turning off this stupid feature right away after I update. When I plug in my phone I want it to charge and quickly finish charging so I can use it. I didn’t buy a thousand dollar phone for a compromised user experience.

 

[jent]

Does anyone know how it checks when cleaner energy is available? I read the press release and the footnote but it doesn't share if it checks local municipal databases, attempts to guess based on common schedules, or what. Just curious to read more.

 

[sfalatko]

If you are worried about saving energy charging use wired charging. Wireless is much less efficient and waists energy and carbon....

 

[I7guy]

Most people charge overnight. Most clean energy sources peak during the day (solar, wind, etc.) How is this going to do much of any good?

I don't charge overnight. I charge during the day as needed, if needed. But it's a clever option.

 

[0924487]

Most people charge overnight. Most clean energy sources peak during the day (solar, wind, etc.) How is this going to do much of any good?

Wind energy peak at night.

Also, if you live close to Niagara Falls, you can use hydro power.

 

[tgwaste]

Does anyone know how it checks when cleaner energy is available? I read the press release and the footnote but it doesn't share if it checks local municipal databases, attempts to guess based on common schedules, or what. Just curious to read more.

This ^^^

How is my phone going to know what 'kind' of energy its getting. I dont get this feature at all.

 

[robd003]

This really feels like a dumb gimmick. I understand trying to charge an EV which consumes tens of kilowatts of energy during "optimal" times, but an iPhone charging is unnoticeable on the grid.

 

[vegetassj4]

Clean enrgy charging case:

 

[Robin Bonathan]

Most people charge overnight. Most clean energy sources peak during the day (solar, wind, etc.) How is this going to do much of any good?

totally agree, we have solar and on normal day more than enough, but night we have to take from grid.

 

[KrisLord]

Most people charge overnight. Most clean energy sources peak during the day (solar, wind, etc.) How is this going to do much of any good?

wind may peak during the day but wind turbines can still run overnight even if it’s not at its peak. Demand is also much lower at this point.

im wondering if their definition of clean should taken so literally.

overnight many power networks produce excess power and their generation can’t be reduced instantly. Using that power reduced demand at peak time.

 

[0924487]

so no charging in china or india? I mean they are the LEAST "green" right?

China leads the world in almost all types of renewable energy, in research, in manufacturing, and in market adoption. Biggest wind farms, and solar farms are all in China.

A few days ago, China's Academy of Engineering Physics created a commercially viable grid scale implimentation of nuclear fusion reactor (artificial sun). A prototype plant was just approved by the government and will be completed in 2028. It's wildly believed to be viable because it uses a very different approach to solve the fusion problem, where energy spent sustaining the core must be lower than the energy generated by the core. It will be the world's first. After that human civilization will enter a new era.

 

[nutmac]

Perhaps I am the exception, but Optimized Charging has never failed me. My phone has never left the charger with 80% battery capacity in various situations.

If this feature will save a bit of carbon footprint here and there, I am all for it. This is probably sourced by data similar to this for California:

 

[gmanist1000]

Turning off this stupid feature right away after I update. When I plug in my phone I want it to charge and quickly finish charging so I can use it. I didn’t buy a thousand dollar phone for a compromised user experience.

First thing I do is turn off optimized battery charging. This’ll be the second.

 

[Kylo83]

I think this is silly to be honest us charging our phones isn’t doing anything wrong to the world, it’s just there to say it’s there

 

[tgwaste]

This really feels like a dumb gimmick. I understand trying to charge an EV which consumes tens of kilowatts of energy during "optimal" times, but an iPhone charging is unnoticeable on the grid.

A billion iphones is not unnoticeable on the grid... but I agree with your sentiment.

 

[audiophilosophy]

This is greenwashing nonsense. It costs about $1 worth of electricity to charge a phone for a whole year (Google it if you think that’s unrealistic). Besides the points already mentioned by other commenters, Apple pushes wireless charging which is not nearly as efficient as wired charging. Wireless charging wastes a lot of electricity to heat. If they wanted to make a legit environmental difference, they’d let you have an option in settings to not charge your phone past 80% since that will noticeably increase the lifespan of your battery and let you keep your device longer before a battery replacement or device upgrade.

 

[dumastudetto]

I love this. I encourage everyone to utilise this feature to help save the planet. This could be the game changer the environment needs.

 

[dguisinger]

Yeah... a big no.
What a waste of resources at Apple to come up with crap like this instead of fixing bugs or releasing features people want.

When I charge my phone, I want it charged. Period. So when i grab it to go, it freaking works.

 

[zorinlynx]

I have a feeling this isn't going to really check for clean energy information, but rather it will push the bulk of the charging later into the night (maybe starting at 3-4AM) when overall energy demand is low.

If my phone has at least 20%, I'd rather it wait to charge until T-minus alarm time, where T is the time it takes to charge to 100%.

 

[antiprotest]

I just told Siri to remind me to turn this off.

Not sure when 16.1 will come out so I will push back the reminder when needed.