By evcharger
The surging popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) has sparked an important discussion about the best way to charge their batteries. Two main options have emerged – charging the battery at stations or swapping out a depleted battery for a fully charged one. Both battery charging and battery swapping have their own pros and cons.
In this article, we’ll explore how each recharging method works and the benefits and limitations of each. Looking at the ins and outs of both can help determine which option may be better in different situations. We will outline these EV battery recharging methods in a clear, everyday way so EV enthusiasts can make informed decisions.
Battery Swapping vs. EV Charging
| Battery Swapping | EV Charging |
| Takes less than 10 minutes to swap batteries and continue the journey. | Typically, it takes 20-30 minutes or more for DC fast charging/5-8 hours for slower charges. |
| Requires large infrastructural investments with the participation of multiple stakeholders. | Automakers are already establishing a wide infrastructure. |
| Needs universal standards for battery size, shape, and connection across automakers. | Charging stations are compatible with most EVs with evolving fast charging technology. |
| Avoids wait periods but standardization issues affect widespread adoption. | Wait periods affect usability, but compatibility enables flexible adoption. |
A Brief History of EV Refueling Methods
Before looking at battery swapping and charging, let’s look at the backstory of how we got to the EV refueling options we have today. Electric cars have actually been around since the late 1800s, but they only recently became practical for everyday use. The early EVs from over a century ago had minimal range. Refueling them was simple – you just swapped the drained lead-acid batteries for fresh ones.
Then in the 1990s, concerns about air pollution and oil dependence led to renewed interest in electric vehicles. GM’s EV1 showed lithium-ion batteries could provide a decent range. But recharging took many hours using an early, slow Level 1 charger. It became clear that faster refueling solutions would be needed for EVs to truly compete with gas cars. This challenge paved the way for new recharging approaches to be explored and developed.
The Israeli startup Better Place, founded in 2007, created one of the earliest viable battery-swapping platforms. The system involved driving EVs fitted with standardized battery modules to swapping stations, where robotics could remove a drained pack and replace it with a fully charged unit in just a few minutes.
During this period, plug-in charging technologies also advanced significantly. The Nissan Leaf, launched in late 2010, gave rise to an era of modern EVs with usable range via onboard Level 2 charging. Tesla arrived at the scene in 2012 with its premium Model S sedan and a novel supercharging network that could replenish over 170 miles of range in only 30 minutes.
Today, both battery swapping and charging ecosystems continue to evolve as automakers and tech startups develop new solutions. Nio has become a leader in battery swapping for passenger vehicles in China, while infrastructure giants like Tesla and Ionity are rolling out more high-powered charging plugs across major markets.
Understanding Battery Swapping
1. Technical Aspects
Standardized battery formats
For battery swapping to work smoothly, EV batteries need to use a standardized design that’s interchangeable between different vehicle makes and models. This standardization allows one battery type to be easily taken from one car, charged and put into another.
Manufacturers must agree on battery case size, wiring connectors, electronics, and programming to standardize batteries. This unified battery format allows building a large shared supply of swappable batteries. Companies like Nio and Gogoro have created common battery specs to make swapping networks a reality.
The key is that standardized batteries enable a “one size fits all” approach, so drivers don’t have to hunt for a specific battery type for their car model. It’s the interchangeability that makes quick, efficient battery swapping feasible on a large scale.
Automated swapping systems
Because EV batteries are so big and heavy, especially in passenger cars, swapping them manually isn’t realistic. Automated systems make battery swapping fast and efficient on a large scale. These systems typically use robotic machinery mounted overhead or in special swapping bays.
The robotic arms can lift out the drained battery from under a vehicle and accurately lower in a fresh, fully charged one. By automating the swapping process, it takes just minutes instead of hours. Automated swapping aims to make the battery switchover happen in just a few minutes, similar to a pit stop in racing.
Battery swapping stations
We need specialized high-capacity swapping stations to make automated, speedy battery swaps possible. These facilities need multiple swapping bays, each equipped with robotic machinery to exchange the batteries. The stations also need to store many standardized batteries on racks, with batteries in different states of charge. This inventory can then be efficiently cycled through – batteries are retrieved, charged, and returned to the racks ready for the next swap.
Bigger swapping sites may also use on-site renewable power and energy storage to handle all the battery charging needs. Swapping stations must be located in convenient places, like highways or busy city areas, to create a usable network.
2. Usage Models
Commercial fleets
Battery swapping works well for commercial vehicle fleets because it allows continuous operation – the vehicles can quickly swap batteries rather than waiting to charge. Taxi and rideshare fleets in cities with swapping networks have used this to their advantage.
Delivery companies can also maximize their fleet’s uptime by quickly swapping fresh batteries. Since fleet vehicles usually follow predictable routes, battery subscription services make sense logistically and reduce infrastructure needs compared to public use.
The key is that for fleets, battery swapping means less downtime and greater productivity. The ability to rapidly exchange batteries allows vehicles to spend more time on the road earning money. So, swapping has appeal for commercial operators looking to optimize their EV fleets.
Standard two and three-wheelers
Battery swapping is a natural fit for light electric vehicles like e-scooters and e-bikes. These smaller EVs depend on fast refueling since they have a limited range. And their compact batteries are easy to remove and exchange.
Companies like Gogoro and Bolloré have made battery swapping popular for e-scooters in Asia and Europe. They use standardized battery designs that make swapping fast and convenient. This model allows each battery to be in constant use rather than sitting idle.
3. Evolution
Asian Market Leadership
Asia kickstarted the battery swapping model, led by influential companies, favorable regulations, and governments willing to invest in the infrastructure needed to prove the concept. Nio pioneered car battery swapping, while Gogoro became the leader in e-scooter swapping. Governments in China and Taiwan also strongly supported swapping by creating demonstration zones and swapping standards. This established infrastructure in Asia now makes it easier to expand swapping networks further.
Blue Park Smart Technology’s battery swap station in China (SK Innovation)
Network expansion initiatives
After finding success in Asia, Nio and Gogoro now aim to expand battery swapping globally. Nio opened a production plant in Hungary and plans 1000 swap stations in Europe by 2025. Gogoro also looks to grow its e-scooter swapping model beyond Asia to cities worldwide. Meanwhile, Bolloré’s Blue Point stations keep spreading across Europe for their electric vans and shuttles.
With continued innovation, swapping networks could help fill EV refueling needs as electric vehicles become more popular worldwide. The progress made in Asia shows the potential for swapping to enable practical, convenient EV adoption in other regions too.
Understanding EV Charging
Technical Aspects
Standardized connectors:
For charging to work smoothly, EVs must use standardized connectors that plug into charging stations. In North America and Europe, the main types are J1772 connectors for Level 1 and Level 2 charging and CCS (Combined Charging System) connectors for Level 3 super-fast charging.
These standardized plugs allow any EV to charge at public stations run by different networks and companies. It’s like how gas pumps use standard nozzles – this interoperability makes charging infrastructure convenient and accessible for all EV drivers.
Charging levels:
Three main levels of EV charging vary in power. Level 1 uses a standard 120V outlet, providing about 5 miles of range per charging hour. Level 2 uses a 240V outlet and provides about 10-30 miles of range per hour. Level 3, or DC fast charging, uses 480V and can provide up to 80% battery capacity in 20-30 minutes, providing over 100 miles of range in 10 minutes of peak charging. Faster charging reduces charging times.
Usage Models
Private charging:
The most common place for EV drivers to charge up is at home overnight using Level 1 or Level 2 chargers. Charging at home lets you take advantage of lower electricity rates during off-peak night hours. This gives a full charge by the next morning for daily driving.
Plugging in at home is super convenient since you can “refuel” while your EV is parked in your garage. For people commuting to work daily, home charging overnight provides an easy way to start each morning with a “full tank.”
Public charging:
EV drivers can also charge up while out and about using public stations. Level 2 chargers at malls, office buildings, and apartments work well for topping off the battery occasionally or after longer trips.
For road trips, DC fast chargers along highways let EVs drive long distances. With a fast charge pit stop of around 30 minutes, drivers can get an 80% charge to keep going for over 200 more miles. So public fast charging complements home charging to make road trips very feasible.
The bottom line is that home charging covers most daily needs, while public chargers fill in the gaps for additional driving. Fast chargers add peace of mind for longer trips. Together, they make it easy to drive electric for any journey.
Evolution
Larger batteries and 800V platforms:
Newer electric cars now use bigger batteries that hold more energy but take longer to charge up fully. At the same time, upgraded electrical systems let them charge much faster – some now use 800+ volt platforms. With these improvements, charging times keep dropping below 30 minutes for over 200 miles of range.
This means EV charging is becoming as fast and convenient as refueling. And quicker charging paves the way for more people to go electric. Bottomline – bigger batteries and faster charging tech are game changers.
Cost Comparison: Battery Swapping vs. EV Charging
For regular EV charging, the main costs are electricity and battery size. Electricity rates vary, but the national average is around 13-14 cents per kWh. Bigger batteries hold more power but are more expensive to fill up. A 60 kWh battery EV charged at 13 cents per kWh will cost about $80 for a full charge.
Battery swapping also depends on electricity rates and battery costs. But instead of plugging in, drivers exchange their depleted EV battery for a charged one at swap stations. Right now, swapping is only offered by a few automakers like Tesla. Based on their pricing, swapping a Tesla battery runs around $80-100 – more than a full charge.
The main tradeoff is cost vs. convenience. Swapping may be pricier, but it saves time. Fast battery swaps could be worth the slightly higher operating cost for many drivers. But regular overnight charging at home costs less for day-to-day use.
Conclusion
As electric cars keep gaining popularity, charging and battery swapping have come forward as two good options for keeping EVs powered up and on the go. Both ways to refuel EVs have pluses and minuses that make them handy in different cases. Swapping batteries out lets drivers fill up incredibly fast but costs more money per swap. Plugging in to charge takes longer but is cheaper for daily charging needs.
In the long run, having both solutions available will be important as electric vehicles become more common. With charging stations and swapping spots growing worldwide, EV owners now have flexible refueling choices to fit their lifestyles.
The outlook is bright for electric vehicle adoption as charging keeps getting faster and more affordable through ongoing innovation. And swapping offers ultra-fast fill-ups in places where drivers need them. With these handy refueling options expanding globally, the future is electric!
