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Many companies have tried this; all have failed. The latest to try is Ample [0], and we'll see how far they get. As a peer poster here observed, this idea seems

Many companies have tried this; all have failed. The latest to try is Ample [0], and we'll see how far they get. As a peer poster here observed, this idea seems correlated with people who don't have actual experience with EV ownership. It's a solution to a non-problem for the average driver [1]. Besides, Tesla now spends about $250K to build a supercharger. A robotically-operated battery-swapping station would probably cost 10x as much both in initial capital and in maintenance costs. [0] https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/ample-ev-startup-swappable-battery-system/ https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/ample-ev-startup-swappabl... [1] Although it might be the perfect solution for some drivers. Uber drivers maybe, who Tesla doesn't allow to use superchargers and who need to recharge as quickly as possible.

Dylan16807 6y ago
Most EV initiaties have failed, so those failures don't say a whole lot. > this idea seems correlated with people who don't have actual experience with EV ownership. It's a solution to a non-problem for the average driver Or there are lots of people it would be a problem for, and so they don't buy EVs. Unless you start handing out EVs at random it's hard to see how much the causality flows in each direction.
Jonanin 6y ago
NIO succeeded: https://www.greencarcongress.com/2021/03/20210327-nio.html https://www.greencarcongress.com/2021/03/20210327-nio.html
intrasight 6y ago
I am aware that some companies have tried (I wouldn't say "many"). And I know that Apple tried with the Newton and failed - and didn't give up. I don't think that a battery swapper would be any more complicated than an automatic car wash.