Chinese smart-battery swap stations can change EV batteries automatically
South China Morning PostCited 3× on HN, 2023–2023
news · general · 2023–2023 on HN
A short South China Morning Post report on Nio's second-generation automated battery-swap stations for electric vehicles. It notes that Nio had built more than 800 stations in China by early 2022.
Linked as concrete evidence that automated EV battery swapping already works at scale in China.
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3 comments from Hacker News
Nio, a Chinese EV manufacturer, allows batteries swap instead of charging. They have swapping stations where you just drive the car in and the battery is swapped through an automated process in under 5 minutes, then you drive off with a full charge. Edit: here it is ▶ this video
> " If modular batteries would work, we'd have them " China has them; automated EV battery swap stations by NIO: ▶ this video
It's already being done on some EV's [1][2]. I think it less about batteries going bad and more about getting people back on the road quickly. I think it's also risky for end users to be doing progressively faster and faster speed charges. They can catch fire with kids in the car. Using the linked method the charging and battery testing occurs in a safer location away from occupants and allows for slower charging and less spikes on the power grid. Get this process fast enough and people will demand EV's because they can get back on the road faster than using a petrol station. It's also about staying current and staying green. More efficient batteries come out in 4 years, one can swap out and be more green and have more range. That battery pack is a massive investment and this would keep that investment strong. Most people are not going to voluntarily fork out another $15-$50K depending on vehicle and will just let their existing pack age out. [1] - link [video][8 mins] [2] - ▶ this video [video][2 mins]