Battery swapping is seen as a joke in North America, but in China, it is a viable and developing business model. Nio was one of the first companies to build battery swapping stations in China. Last year, they added 995 new stations, bringing the total to 2,300. So far, over 30 million battery swaps have been conducted, including 430,000 in a single week! The company is also building battery swapping stations in Norway.
Two years ago, CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, introduced its EVOGO battery swapping stations to the Chinese market. According to CnEVPost, CATL’s system consists of a battery box, swapping station, and an app. The battery box, known as Choco-SEB (swappable electric block) by CATL, is a mass-produced battery specifically designed for swapping. It utilizes CATL’s latest technology with an energy density of over 160 Wh/kg and a volumetric energy density of 325 Wh/l. The company claims that a single block can provide a range of about 200 kilometers.
The battery box can be customized to fit 80% of electric vehicles already available on the market worldwide, as well as those being developed on dedicated EV platforms set to enter the market within the next 3 years. Each EVOGO battery swapping station takes up three parking spaces and only requires a minute to swap a single battery block. The station can store up to 48 battery blocks, ensuring users always have access to a fully charged battery block without long waiting times. The company claims that the battery swapping stations are available in versions adapted to different regional climate conditions.
CATL Partners with Didi for Battery Swapping
According to Electrive, CATL is looking to collaborate with Didi Chuxing, the world’s largest ride-hailing company. The battery manufacturer expects to leverage the technical advantages and operational capabilities of both companies. CATL also plans to enhance service and technology standards through its partnership with Didi, as well as improve resource utilization and operational efficiency. CATL stated on its WeChat account that Didi is “one of the most valuable application scenarios for battery swapping services” due to its large customer base and the number of charging needs required to meet its drivers’ demands.
Didi Chuxing claims to have had around 84 million monthly active users in November of last year, according to Statista. Nikkei reports that the company has nearly 600 million users worldwide and records an average of 31.3 million daily transactions in the third quarter of 2023. Didi and CATL have not yet chosen a name for their joint venture or disclosed performance objectives.
Last year, CATL set a monthly rental price for battery blocks at 399 yuan (€58), but stated that the amount would be dynamically adjusted based on usage conditions. The announcement of the new business collaboration with Didi did not mention pricing or information about the locations where battery swapping stations will be built. So far, EVogo has only installed stations in Xiamen, Quanzhou, Hefei, Guiyang, and Fuzhou.
Focus on battery swapping aligns with national policy. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT) confirmed its support for this technology at a conference in December of last year, and pilot projects for public transportation are set to begin this year. In June 2023, CATL also presented a battery swapping solution for heavy electric trucks in collaboration with Qiji Energy.
Why Does Battery Swapping Make Sense?
In the United States, people roll their eyes at the idea of battery swapping, but it actually makes a lot of sense for electric vehicle drivers. Range anxiety is a significant factor in the decision to purchase an electric vehicle, which is why people often pay for a larger capacity battery than they actually need. The EVOGO battery swapping service aims to solve this problem by allowing users to rent batteries according to their actual needs. Users can rent just one battery block for daily commutes or choose two or three blocks if they are traveling longer distances, according to CATL. Instead of swapping batteries, the blocks can also be charged using traditional charging equipment.
There is also the issue of battery degradation and the gradual aging of the vehicle. People worry that if they buy an electric car, they will have to pay a large sum for a new battery in the future. Many dread the idea of being stuck with an outdated battery when newer, lighter, cheaper, and more efficient ones hit the market. It’s a bit like the anxiety people felt when they bought personal computers 20 years ago, knowing that their processor would be outdated by the time they brought their new equipment home.
Battery swapping eliminates all these worries for drivers. Their battery will always benefit from the latest technologies, and if it fails, it becomes someone else’s problem. They will never have to pay for a battery replacement, no matter how long they own the car. Sometimes, it’s challenging to quantify the value of such psychological benefits, but peace of mind is a valuable asset.
Another advantage is that if you’re traveling further than usual, simply rent two or three battery blocks. And then, when you return to your regular driving routine, you can switch back to the cheaper option of one block and save money. It’s a truly smart idea, as long as there are enough battery swapping stations available and the price is reasonable.
Full Battery in One Minute
People often complain about how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle (though over 80% of charging occurs at home overnight when cars are not in use). Well, if battery swapping can be done in one minute, that complaint quickly disappears!
Ample is trying to introduce battery swapping.
Battery Swapping – FAQ
1. What is battery swapping?
Battery swapping is a business model in which electric vehicle drivers can exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones at battery swapping stations.
2. What are the benefits of battery swapping?
Battery swapping eliminates range anxiety for electric vehicles, allowing users to rent batteries according to their actual needs. Drivers always have access to the latest battery technologies and do not have to worry about the costs of replacement or battery aging.
3. How does a battery swapping station work?
A battery swapping station has battery boxes that can be customized for different electric vehicle models. Drivers park their cars at the station, and an automated system swaps the depleted battery for a fully charged one within one minute.
4. What are the technical standards of the batteries used in battery swapping?
CATL offers battery boxes with an energy density of over 160 Wh/kg and a volumetric energy density of 325 Wh/l. Each battery block can provide a range of about 200 kilometers.
5. Where are battery swapping stations available?
Battery swapping stations are currently available in
The source of the article is from the blog mgz.com.tw