This is interesting, but there is a huge caveat, because battery packs have lifespans. Ars reports “… drivers must swap back in their original battery pack on their return trip or pay a fee equal to the difference in value between the new and old batteries”.
So, it’s not analogous to propane tank exchange, where the containers have long life, are very interchangeable, and cost the same order-of-magnitude as the fuel it contains. Battery packs on the other hand have finite lives, have serious compatibility issues, and cost way, way more than the energy they store.
But another way to look at it is that you’ll have to buy a new battery eventually if you keep the car long enough, so just paying the old->new fee each time may actually be economical. But it could stink if your newer battery gets swapped out for an older one that can sustain a smaller charge.
Originally shared by Science
Ever dreamed of charging your electric car in less than two minutes?.
Guess what? Your dream has just become true!
Tesla Motors unveiled a system that will let drivers swap out the battery in a Model S in about 90 seconds, which is less time than it takes to fill up a traditional car at the pump.
“The only decision you need to make when you come to one of our Tesla stations is, do you prefer faster or free,”said Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer of Tesla.
More here http://cnnmon.ie/15qyQBX and here http://buswk.co/15qyZWb
Official site (Video): http://www.teslamotors.com/batteryswap
#tesla #battery #electriccars
I like the idea of battery swap provided that the car’s diagnostic system can detect a battery operating at some particular threshold standard. The downside I see is the potential for battery changing stations to act in an unscrupulous manner and attempt to pass off batteries which can no longer charge to the minimum threshold capacity in order to save a few bucks. One could even imagine performing some fairly dangerous modifications to the battery to fool the car’s diagnostic system.
I am betting that battery swapping will carry E-cars to the era when batteries can be charge 80% full in a matter of minutes. That tech isn’t far off.
Conor Klecker – my (limited) understanding is that heat is one of the major problems with fast charging. Charge too fast and you permanently damage the battery by overheating.
That, and mega capacitors at the station to have enough energy on hand to send that 80% charge in a short time period…
I think capacitors as an intermediary in both the station and in the car has a lot of potential (haha) but mostly it’s just an excuse to link to this video: http://youtu.be/EoWMF3VkI6U