5 ms·

swappable batteries is something NIO does, but agreed it not widespread. Tesla wanted to this at one point but they cancelled the idea. not sure why

• ggm 3y ago
  It wasn't going to make tesla a competitive advantage the way integrated battery has.
  • penjelly 3y ago
    i dont follow, how would it be different? would you mind helping me understand why a swappable battery is different? My impression was they would be the same in actual function
    • ggm 3y ago
      It would sell competitor product to conform. It's build a bigger market logic, but despite Musk patent stance he actually does want to own the business as well as grow the business. It would have eroded his competitive advantage since he had a car which had 2x the range of his competitors. It would have set logistic constraints and limit his innovation. You can't build cells into the structural frame if you go with a removable pack. It would have meant building an economy around pack recharge which is a large initial capital cost. It would have meant developing and commercialising robotics beyond the capabilities of the time to do autoswap.