Battery Swapping: How It Can Benefit E-mobility Transition

Battery swapping provides customers and policymakers with a solution for many of the concerns inhibiting the further growth of EV.

India’s mobility sector has seen a growing preference for electric vehicles (EVs) in recent years due to several factors. And the pace of this transformation is set to accelerate in the coming years as technology continues to improve and prices decline. Within e-mobility, a variety of technologies will cater to different user segments and their needs. And battery swapping is one of those which solves some pressing needs and offers multiple benefits.

The transition to EVs has been a global phenomenon, and India is no exception. There are a few reasons that have led to sustained growth in this transition, such as government support, technology, and concerns about the climate. 

From the ban on fossil fuel-operated vehicles to various kinds of policy support for EVs, there have been several moves from governments. In India, about 20 states have an EV policy that incentivises the use of EVs and supports their manufacturing. There are also subsidies offered at the state and central levels that make EVs more affordable. 

EVs have also seen massive improvements in technology over the years. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), an average EV had a range of only 127 km in 2010; this had jumped to 349 km in 2021. Finally, concerns around climate change have added to the urgency to transition to EVs. With the transport sector accounting for 1/6th of global CO₂ emissions, the transition to e-mobility can help bring this to zero.

In India, the sale of EVs was above the 10,00,000 number for the first time in a year in 2022. It was a 206 per cent increase over 2021 when around 3,50,000 EVs were sold. Apart from the larger factors that have helped customers make the shift, EVs offer numerous advantages in everyday operations. 

The cost of running an EV is much less when compared to that of a petrol, diesel, or CNG vehicle and provides substantial savings on running expenses. Their maintenance expenses are also much lower when compared to ones running on fossil fuels. And finally, they offer a much better riding experience.

Concerns For Buyers

However, EVs as a technology are still in their infancy and have some teething issues. The range of an EV, though improving, continues to remain a concern to users. The charging infrastructure is still being rolled out. The long charging time required to recharge impacts users who need to refuel quickly. Finally, while the prices of EVs have been declining, they are still unaffordable to a large number of buyers. Providing solutions to these issues will bring EVs further into the mainstream and allow the masses to access their benefits.

One promising technology among these is battery swapping. While an EV usually has a battery fixed in the vehicle, battery swapping enables vehicles to swap batteries. When the EV is about to run out of charge, users can arrive at a battery swapping station and replace an empty battery with a fully recharged one. 

This technology solves the problems of charging time, range anxiety, high upfront cost, and charging infrastructure.

Benefits Of Battery Swapping

As battery swapping allows users to get a new battery almost instantly, it solves the issue of long charging times. For commercial vehicles that need to recharge quickly and be on the road immediately, battery swapping is the perfect solution. The swapping process is smooth, simple, and easy for the user. And it reduces the range anxiety of users as they can get the full range of the EV back in minutes.

The battery is the single most expensive component of an EV and is the reason for the difference between the high sale price of an EV and other fuel vehicles. Battery swapping removes the battery from the cost of the EV and makes it available to drivers on a subscription basis. It is similar to paying for petrol or diesel when refuelling a vehicle and allows users to spread out the cost of the fuel over its lifetime.  

Finally, the infrastructure needed to create a battery-swapping network is much smaller compared to that of fixed-battery EVs. While a fixed-battery EV requires a dedicated charging spot, batteries in swapping stations can be stacked up and service 10s of EVs at once from a limited space. Co-located with retail stores, these can be in areas where EVs operate the most. For dense cities looking to transition to e-mobility quickly and using optimal space and resources, battery swapping offers an attractive option.

The transition to electric mobility is rapidly underway in countries around the world. However, with the technology still maturing, some issues concern users. Battery swapping provides customers and policymakers with a solution for many of the concerns inhibiting the further growth of EVs and makes a compelling argument for its rollout. 

(The author is the co-founder and CEO of Sheru)

Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, and views of ABP Network Pvt. Ltd.

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