The problem with battery swapping isn't in standardization, which is easy, but in how many batteries have to be made over and above the number of EVs, and in stock EVERYWHERE to make it feasible. Picture every gas station in town having a large stock of batteries waiting to be swapped out every few minutes on another EV. That's millions of extra batteries just to be able to swap at a moments notice everywhere, while others are on the rack being recharged.. Just a stupid idea logistically.
Much better to make the cars charge a little faster and realize that most charging is done at home and you start out every day with a "full tank."
In reply to Chris_V:
Good point. Plus, it's not like an empty metal cylinder that gets refilled with burnable fuel, i.e. propane tank at the big box hardware stores and gas stations. Think of the environmental impact to produce the stockpile of swap-out batteries.
I drive an EV. I know how I treat my car, I know my charging habits, and I'm pretty well aware of the condition of my battery pack. If I swap my battery pack for one one from a charging station I don't know any of those things. Who knows how well the yahoo who turned it in last had treated that pack, or its age or how many files are on it.
The battery pack is the heart of an EV - it's more expensive and more fragile than the drivetrain. EV owners who would volunteer to swap their own battery pack for for some random pack at a swap station are either clueless or know that their own pack had issues.
If I leased my battery separately from my car, and that battery lease program included a guaranteed service level of charge and range--only then would I even consider a battery swap.
nderwater wrote:
I drive an EV. If I leased my battery separately from my car, and that battery lease program included a guaranteed service level of charge and range--only then would I even consider a battery swap.
I know how I treat my car, I know my charging habits, and I'm pretty well aware of the state of my battery pack. If I swap my battery pack for one one from a charging station I don't know any of those things. Who knows how well the yahoo who turned it in last had treated that pack, or its age or how many files are on it.
The battery pack is the heart of an EV - its more expensive and more fragile than the drivetrain. EV owners who would volunteer to swap their own battery pack for for some random pack at a swap station are either clueless or know that their own pack had issues.
Along the same thought, does the warranty on your new EV apply to the swapped battery you just installed, or the new battery that's riding in some other fellow's car now?
The big problem is with industries proprietary nature. Each maker will fight for their design to be the standard. Think cordless tools or cell phones and their batteries for this. Factory chargers and licensed techs would be required to change them and warranties and liability would be at issue. This is really more to keep money flowing through them rather than Bob's Battery Barn.
If you could establish a modularity across various vehicle types it would be simple!
Your motorcycle would take an "A" pack, your small 2 door commuter would take a "B" pack which is a rack of 4 "A's", an SUV might get the "D" pack of 4 "B" racks and the cargo truck might get 4 "D" packs! Various voltage requirements would be available at the interface to the vehicle. Even set it up so you could have your "D" pack at home charging while you pick up the kids and go to work on 2 "A" packs!
Innovations and improvements made to the batteries in an "A" cell would translate immediately to the larger packs.
If electric really takes off you have to realize that electricity is already available nearly everywhere! A perk at work may be free charging while you work! Might work for anyplace that has parking. Hotels, amusement parks, malls, sports venues, airports, schools, apartments...anyplace with parking could set up these stations. Of course these cost would be absorbed in higher costs for their services, but it would be hidden just as the cost for anything related to the business.
There is a massive amount of tech available just waiting on a market to develop.
To paraphrase...
“When electric car time comes you can electric car—but not before.”
Bruce
In reply to Chris_V:
Don't forget the additional load on the already outdated, overloaded power grid.
nderwater wrote:
The battery pack is the heart of an EV - it's more expensive and more fragile than the drivetrain. EV owners who would volunteer to swap their own battery pack for for some random pack at a swap station are either clueless or know that their own pack had issues.
Kindof like the people who turn in propane tanks at those exchange places. Reasons why I always get my tank filled.
Kenny_McCormic wrote:
Don't forget the additional load on the already outdated, overloaded power grid.
We have two EVs at our house, so after speaking with our power company we moved to their Plug-in Electric Vehicle rate plan which is designed to minimize charging impact to their service. Under this plan our 'super off-peak' rate is 1/15th the cost of the 'peak rate'--so it's a no-brainer incentive for us to charge our vehicles between 11pm and 7am each day, the period of lowest demand on the grid. Georgia Power has also sharply reduced their reliance on Coal power since 2010, and that's its own win.
In reply to nderwater:
For home slow charging sure, typically happens at night when there is less AC usage, fine and dandy. I'm talking about a bunch of gas stations suddenly needing 480V 3 phase service to get into the hypothetical battery swap business.
