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This method, in the form of swappable batteries, seems to be working well for electric scooters/mopeds. See Gogoro, whose battery swap stations will apparently
by wilsonnb3 4y ago
This method, in the form of swappable batteries, seems to be working well for electric scooters/mopeds. See Gogoro, whose battery swap stations will apparently outnumber gas stations in Taiwan soon.
Obviously there is a scale problem since an electric car battery is 50-100 kWh compared to 1.7 kWh for a scooter battery. It still seems like a promising technology though, especially if someone can figure out a form factor that makes the battery swap easier.
- MBCook 4y agoIgnoring everything else, it seems impractical to me unless all automakers get on the same standard. Otherwise it’s similar to the original Tesla situation where each manufacturer has to build their own network of battery swapping stations all over the world at great cost. If you’re out if juice in your VW and the only thing near by is a Chevy station you’re doomed to get a tow. Short of a government mandate, which will never happen in the US, I don’t think automakers would ever get on one standard.
- wilsonnb3 4y agoMuch like how it would be inconvenient to refuel my Ford Escape if I could only do it at Ford gas stations or with Ford fuel but that is a solved problem. I believe pre-unleaded gas it was just a standard but the US Gov made some regulations in the 70s about it. I think it would play out similarly, with companies coalescing on a standard on their own and regulation coming afterwards.