
By Chris Robinson, Lux Research
Battery swapping allows EV owners to replace depleted batteries with charged ones at swap stations in roughly the same time it takes to fill up a tank of gas.
The process can be automated and completed in minutes or even less with the latest technologies, making it a viable solution to range anxiety and other problems, such as long charging times and limited charging facilities.
Major carmakers and investors are now giving the solution closer attention more than a decade after the first failed attempt to popularise swappable batteries by tech start-up Better Place in partnership with French carmaker Renault.
China is expected to be a leader in battery swapping due to the country’s favourable regulations, demographics, geography, its surging numbers of EVs, and commitments from large automakers to expand swapping networks.