We’re not sure yet. According to Enel X Way North America, the company is in the process of appointing an “experienced third-party” to manage any remaining obligations. The company says that further information will be provided on a claims information page, which is not yet available. We reached out to Enel X Way, Enel, and the claims email listed on Enel X Way’s home page to find out more, but have not heard back.
If you purchased your JuiceBox recently, you may be able to return it to a retailer or take advantage of a credit card’s warranty coverage benefit if something goes wrong. If you experience a safety issue with your charger, you can submit a complaint to NHTSA. If you’re looking for a new charger, we’ve had good experiences with several alternatives.
Ultimately, the responsibility for continued functionality should fall on Enel X Way, says Stacey Higginbotham, policy fellow at Consumer Reports. Manufacturers of software-tethered products should set aside money to support future warranty coverage or to reimburse owners for lost functionality.
“You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip, which is why having an escrow set aside for support and maintenance is the right thing to do,” she says.
App-free usability could even be factored into the product design, such as including fundamental controls on the device itself.
