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I’d love a car with a tiny battery for 99% of the time when I’m just driving locally and the ability to have an extra, large battery that can be slotted in when

I’d love a car with a tiny battery for 99% of the time when I’m just driving locally and the ability to have an extra, large battery that can be slotted in when I want to make a longer trip. With only the short range battery most of the time, my car’s weight is low and efficiency high. Maybe I could keep that battery in my house and use it to store solar electricity most of the time. It seems like it should be possible to design a system for slotting it in that doesn’t require me to physically lift its weight. I’d also be happy to drive into somewhere local that rents me that long range battery and slots it in with machinery designed for the purpose.

alexisread 4y ago
...say like a battery trailer with a CCS socket, and with extra storage as well, for long journeys? Low tech FTW. Smartrail is still a better soln but we have to be realistic here.
- NickNameNick 4y ago
  Will any electric car let you drive while it's plugged in? I'm pretty sure Tesla's Rivians get locked into park when the charger is connected.
  - jsjohnst 4y ago
    > Will any electric car let you drive while it's plugged in? That’s what I was wondering too. Like you, I’m pretty sure the major EVs don’t let you drive while charge, but I haven’t actually tried it.
  - danans 4y ago
    No, even my PHEV doesn't let you drive while plugged in.
  - alexisread 4y ago
    I think you're correct, my Fiat certainly doesn't. That is, however a firmware update away provided the type2 or CCS protocol can distinguish between a mobile or static charger, or be extended to do so. My OP was a slightly off the cuff post to highlight the use of a trailer for say cheap city cars, rather than a removable battery.
- lorax 4y ago
  I have heard of proof of concept camping trailers that not only have batteries but also motors in the wheels so the can provide extra power when you drive (restoring the range you loose when towing) and also regen braking. Not low tech, but would be really useful https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1133124_towing-with-an-ev-are-electric-trailers-the-future https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1133124_towing-with-an-...
cjdell 4y ago
I love the idea of using those extra cells for solar or perhaps renting them. I can't see why no one is exploring this gap in the market. It might only appeal to nerds at first but that is true with most technologies in their infancy. We need what is effectively a giant version of a double AA battery. Yes we also need battery management systems and heating/cooling to go with these things but these are solved problems, just not standardised yet. Please someone take note and do this!
squarefoot 4y ago
> With only the short range battery most of the time, my car’s weight is low and efficiency high. That would however subject the smaller battery to more charge/discharge cycles for obtaining the same mileage. Wouldn't that shorten its life?
- tokamak-teapot 4y ago
  I’d be happy to have a shorter life on my small, cheap battery because it should be cheap to replace.
rvdginste 4y ago
I don't know if any company is exploring what you are mentioning, but battery swapping for electrical scooters (Gogoro) is in common use in Taiwan. Instead of you charge your scooter, you drive to a battery swap station and exchange your empty battery for a full one. see [1]. But some companies are also investigating battery swap stations for cars. So, you might not be able to swap a short-range battery with a long-range battery yourself, but I imagine that would be possible with those battery swap stations. See [2]. Battery swap stations means that you have full range again for the same time it takes to fill a car with gas. But obviously, you need to have enough of those stations to make it usable. And if every car brand is gonna create its own mechanism for battery swapping, then that would probably only be interesting in city areas where it's worthwhile for the manufacturer to run those stations. [1] https://www.electrive.com/2022/01/18/battery-swapping-stations-to-overtake-petrol-pumps-for-taiwan/ https://www.electrive.com/2022/01/18/battery-swapping-statio... [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61310513 https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61310513 Edit: typo.
- gabbyvilloria 4y ago
  We've been doing this in the Philippines since 2013! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9aEWxexrMI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9aEWxexrMI Just started raising VC this year lol
the_biot 4y ago
> Maybe I could keep that battery in my house and use it to store solar electricity most of the time. That's utopian. These things weigh a ton, you'd need a forklift.
- jasonjayr 4y ago
  Sure, but there are jacks that can be purchased for home use that can easily lift a ton or two. If this was a thing, the battery would have to self-lift itself into place, or have home-installed battery swap station.
snthd 4y ago
>I’d love a car with a tiny battery for 99% of the time when I’m just driving locally That's basically what an electric cargo bike is, functionally. >I’d also be happy to drive into somewhere local that rents me that long range battery and slots it in with machinery designed for the purpose. Rent the whole car... >my car’s weight is low and efficiency high. ...and you don't have the weight the rest of the time.
hattmall 4y ago
Or you just rent the battery for the trip. Sort of like propane tank exchanges. Drive to the station add a 600 mile battery, drive somewhere, swap or charge it and drive back. Most people would only need 40/50 miles of range 90% of the time. And that range could charge very rapidly as well.
freemint 4y ago
Look into the XBUS by Electric Brands. It is a light vehicle (because they are a less stringently regulated market in Europe).

alexisread 4y ago

...say like a battery trailer with a CCS socket, and with extra storage as well, for long journeys? Low tech FTW. Smartrail is still a better soln but we have to be realistic here.

NickNameNick 4y ago
Will any electric car let you drive while it's plugged in? I'm pretty sure Tesla's Rivians get locked into park when the charger is connected.
- jsjohnst 4y ago
  > Will any electric car let you drive while it's plugged in? That’s what I was wondering too. Like you, I’m pretty sure the major EVs don’t let you drive while charge, but I haven’t actually tried it.
- danans 4y ago
  No, even my PHEV doesn't let you drive while plugged in.
- alexisread 4y ago
  I think you're correct, my Fiat certainly doesn't. That is, however a firmware update away provided the type2 or CCS protocol can distinguish between a mobile or static charger, or be extended to do so. My OP was a slightly off the cuff post to highlight the use of a trailer for say cheap city cars, rather than a removable battery.
lorax 4y ago
I have heard of proof of concept camping trailers that not only have batteries but also motors in the wheels so the can provide extra power when you drive (restoring the range you loose when towing) and also regen braking. Not low tech, but would be really useful https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1133124_towing-with-an-ev-are-electric-trailers-the-future https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1133124_towing-with-an-...

cjdell 4y ago

I love the idea of using those extra cells for solar or perhaps renting them. I can't see why no one is exploring this gap in the market. It might only appeal to nerds at first but that is true with most technologies in their infancy. We need what is effectively a giant version of a double AA battery. Yes we also need battery management systems and heating/cooling to go with these things but these are solved problems, just not standardised yet. Please someone take note and do this!

squarefoot 4y ago

> With only the short range battery most of the time, my car’s weight is low and efficiency high. That would however subject the smaller battery to more charge/discharge cycles for obtaining the same mileage. Wouldn't that shorten its life?

tokamak-teapot 4y ago
I’d be happy to have a shorter life on my small, cheap battery because it should be cheap to replace.

rvdginste 4y ago

I don't know if any company is exploring what you are mentioning, but battery swapping for electrical scooters (Gogoro) is in common use in Taiwan. Instead of you charge your scooter, you drive to a battery swap station and exchange your empty battery for a full one. see [1]. But some companies are also investigating battery swap stations for cars. So, you might not be able to swap a short-range battery with a long-range battery yourself, but I imagine that would be possible with those battery swap stations. See [2]. Battery swap stations means that you have full range again for the same time it takes to fill a car with gas. But obviously, you need to have enough of those stations to make it usable. And if every car brand is gonna create its own mechanism for battery swapping, then that would probably only be interesting in city areas where it's worthwhile for the manufacturer to run those stations. [1] https://www.electrive.com/2022/01/18/battery-swapping-stations-to-overtake-petrol-pumps-for-taiwan/ https://www.electrive.com/2022/01/18/battery-swapping-statio... [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61310513 https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61310513 Edit: typo.

gabbyvilloria 4y ago
We've been doing this in the Philippines since 2013! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9aEWxexrMI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9aEWxexrMI Just started raising VC this year lol

the_biot 4y ago

> Maybe I could keep that battery in my house and use it to store solar electricity most of the time. That's utopian. These things weigh a ton, you'd need a forklift.

jasonjayr 4y ago
Sure, but there are jacks that can be purchased for home use that can easily lift a ton or two. If this was a thing, the battery would have to self-lift itself into place, or have home-installed battery swap station.

snthd 4y ago

>I’d love a car with a tiny battery for 99% of the time when I’m just driving locally That's basically what an electric cargo bike is, functionally. >I’d also be happy to drive into somewhere local that rents me that long range battery and slots it in with machinery designed for the purpose. Rent the whole car... >my car’s weight is low and efficiency high. ...and you don't have the weight the rest of the time.

hattmall 4y ago

Or you just rent the battery for the trip. Sort of like propane tank exchanges. Drive to the station add a 600 mile battery, drive somewhere, swap or charge it and drive back. Most people would only need 40/50 miles of range 90% of the time. And that range could charge very rapidly as well.

freemint 4y ago

Look into the XBUS by Electric Brands. It is a light vehicle (because they are a less stringently regulated market in Europe).