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I suspect swappable batteries and/or standardized battery tech would be a huge boon. Plus expansion of available charging stations. Those kinds of things would

I suspect swappable batteries and/or standardized battery tech would be a huge boon. Plus expansion of available charging stations. Those kinds of things would really move the tech forward.

intrasight 6y ago
Of course swappable and standardized would be a huge benefit. Imagine if AA, C, a D batteries hadn't been made a thing and instead we just had every maker of flashlights and transistor radios use their own proprietary batteries. Never mind - we don't have to imagine, as that's where we've now arrived with consumer electronics. Nowadays, companies like "standards" only when used as a weapon to undermine their competitors. But in the long run, I do suspect a return to swappable and standardized. It many require government regulation.
VBprogrammer 6y ago
I don't see swappable batteries in the future. Those things weigh 500kg or more. Sure you could theoretically build a machine which is capable of swapping it but that's a big bit of infrastructure and the constraints it would impose on the design of the car would be huge. That said, I do have hopes for more standardisation in battery form factors. I'd like for there to come a day when changing a battery is no more hassle than say having a new exhaust installed currently.
SEJeff 6y ago
Tesla originally planned on swappable batteries, and then realized the logistics of it were not a good use of capital or sense. The latest Teslas use rigid battery packs as part of the structure of the vehicle. I suspect swapping those would be impossible quickly.
nradov 6y ago
Nio electric cars are very popular in China and they have a large network of battery swap stations. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a33670482/nio-swappable-batteries-lease/ https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a33670482/nio-swappable-ba...
agumonkey 6y ago
There was an article about swappable electric motorbikes.. I find the idea appealing and I'd love to see that happen for cars. I think Tesla should, if it wants to increase its chance of long term survival, put some partnerships into a battery interface standard.

I suspect swappable batteries and/or standardized battery tech would be a huge boon. Plus expansion of available charging stations. Those kinds of things would really move the tech forward.

intrasight 6y ago

Of course swappable and standardized would be a huge benefit. Imagine if AA, C, a D batteries hadn't been made a thing and instead we just had every maker of flashlights and transistor radios use their own proprietary batteries. Never mind - we don't have to imagine, as that's where we've now arrived with consumer electronics. Nowadays, companies like "standards" only when used as a weapon to undermine their competitors. But in the long run, I do suspect a return to swappable and standardized. It many require government regulation.

VBprogrammer 6y ago

I don't see swappable batteries in the future. Those things weigh 500kg or more. Sure you could theoretically build a machine which is capable of swapping it but that's a big bit of infrastructure and the constraints it would impose on the design of the car would be huge. That said, I do have hopes for more standardisation in battery form factors. I'd like for there to come a day when changing a battery is no more hassle than say having a new exhaust installed currently.

SEJeff 6y ago

Tesla originally planned on swappable batteries, and then realized the logistics of it were not a good use of capital or sense. The latest Teslas use rigid battery packs as part of the structure of the vehicle. I suspect swapping those would be impossible quickly.

nradov 6y ago

Nio electric cars are very popular in China and they have a large network of battery swap stations. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a33670482/nio-swappable-batteries-lease/ https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a33670482/nio-swappable-ba...

agumonkey 6y ago

There was an article about swappable electric motorbikes.. I find the idea appealing and I'd love to see that happen for cars. I think Tesla should, if it wants to increase its chance of long term survival, put some partnerships into a battery interface standard.