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I believe easily/quick replaceable/interchangeable batteries is one of the simplest ways to make EVs go mainstream. Yes, I know they weigh a lot, but you could
by klingonopera 7y ago
I believe easily/quick replaceable/interchangeable batteries is one of the simplest ways to make EVs go mainstream.
Yes, I know they weigh a lot, but you could have e.g. 10/20 cells weighing 50 kg each to offset that.
In many developing countries, you don't even need to refuel yourself, staff at the gas station are willing to do that for you, so you don't even need to get your hands dirty. I think gas/refueling stations should be backing this idea, before they become non-existent.
Long recharge times can thus be avoided. Price-conscious consumers can recharge over-night using a wall socket, keeping grid loads low(er).
Aging batteries wouldn't be an issue, and can be replaced, heck, even upgraded! Buy a car with 250km range today, have it go 750km tomorrow, when the tech matures, who knows.
...but all this would require car manufacturers to forgo half the selling price and work together to develop a universal battery cell, so I'm doubting this would ever happen.
But I see no loss for the consumer with this strategy though, and believe that this should be highlighted in the public discourse.
- mikeash 7y agoCharging times just aren’t that bad, and they continue to improve. Tesla has a battery swap station on the busy SF-LA route. They shut it down because almost nobody used it.
- klingonopera 7y agoInteresting, I hadn't heard of this yet. I'm guessing nobody used it, because it was for the exclusively for the Model S, which has good range and few owners, and apparently you even needed to make an appointment for it. It's not "refueling", it's "replacing" the battery, what Tesla did. https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-shuts-down-battery-swap-program-for-superchargers/ https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-shuts-down-battery-swap-prog...
- mikeash 7y agoThis was back when the Model S was the only Tesla available in any real numbers. California had a ton of them. They are long range, but not long enough to do SF-LA without charging. Long trips should be the ideal case for battery swaps, because it’s a situation where you really do have to wait for the car, and can’t just charge while you sleep or whatever.