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Imagine putting the batteries in shipping containers and just using the existing cranes to swap them around Edit: Probably wouldn't happen though. I feel like

Imagine putting the batteries in shipping containers and just using the existing cranes to swap them around Edit: Probably wouldn't happen though. I feel like if swapping was gonna work, it would be done in smaller vehicles already

XorNot 4y ago
Its not really analogous though: smaller vehicles are dominated by aerodynamic concerns, and otherwise a cargo profile that's totally different (people). Whereas ships are dominated by the cargo profile: shipping containers.
chrjxnandns 4y ago
geenew 4y ago
Your first point is a good one, these ships base at locations specifically designed for transferring heavy loads. Adding battery swapping to the to-do list at container ports does not seem unreasonable at all. To your second point, let it always be remembered that the first electric busses, from the early 20th century, used a battery swap system. It can be done, especially on industrial vehicles. Personally I don’t understand why it isn’t being done today for electrified bus networks. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1423929?section=official-list-entry https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1...
- angled 4y ago
  How do you refuel at sea or even anchored near port? The recent West Coast US delays would be an example of a situation of that, along with the Suez Canal delay. How do batteries disperse/degrade or get recovered at sea when the inevitable cargo loss or hull loss occurs? Possibly the answer to both of those is systemic - but it is at least that.
  - geenew 4y ago
    I don't think at-sea refuelling is common for commercial ships, but if needed presumably a electric equivalent of an oiler could be made, with a electric cable instead of a hose used to transfer power from one ship to the other. For the other issue... probably no perfect solution.
ge96 4y ago
How about solar panels on the crates and they connect to each other conductively. Top-most crates are the ones exposed to the sun.
clouddrover 4y ago
Swapping is being done in smaller vehicles already. Cars: https://www.nio.com/blog/nio-users-china-have-completed-10-million-battery-swaps https://www.nio.com/blog/nio-users-china-have-completed-10-m... Scooters: https://www.gogoro.com/gogoro-network/ https://www.gogoro.com/gogoro-network/

XorNot 4y ago

Its not really analogous though: smaller vehicles are dominated by aerodynamic concerns, and otherwise a cargo profile that's totally different (people). Whereas ships are dominated by the cargo profile: shipping containers.

chrjxnandns 4y ago

geenew 4y ago

Your first point is a good one, these ships base at locations specifically designed for transferring heavy loads. Adding battery swapping to the to-do list at container ports does not seem unreasonable at all. To your second point, let it always be remembered that the first electric busses, from the early 20th century, used a battery swap system. It can be done, especially on industrial vehicles. Personally I don’t understand why it isn’t being done today for electrified bus networks. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1423929?section=official-list-entry https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1...

angled 4y ago
How do you refuel at sea or even anchored near port? The recent West Coast US delays would be an example of a situation of that, along with the Suez Canal delay. How do batteries disperse/degrade or get recovered at sea when the inevitable cargo loss or hull loss occurs? Possibly the answer to both of those is systemic - but it is at least that.
- geenew 4y ago
  I don't think at-sea refuelling is common for commercial ships, but if needed presumably a electric equivalent of an oiler could be made, with a electric cable instead of a hose used to transfer power from one ship to the other. For the other issue... probably no perfect solution.

ge96 4y ago

How about solar panels on the crates and they connect to each other conductively. Top-most crates are the ones exposed to the sun.

clouddrover 4y ago

Swapping is being done in smaller vehicles already. Cars: https://www.nio.com/blog/nio-users-china-have-completed-10-million-battery-swaps https://www.nio.com/blog/nio-users-china-have-completed-10-m... Scooters: https://www.gogoro.com/gogoro-network/ https://www.gogoro.com/gogoro-network/