China looks to make it easier for electric car drivers to swap batteries on the move
- Government working to establish common industry standards for procedure, which would remove headache of waiting to recharge vehicle
- Move could also cut cost of electric vehicles by allowing drivers to buy or rent batteries separate from car
China is stepping up efforts to facilitate initiatives that allow electric vehicle batteries to be swapped on the go.
The government is working to establish common industry standards for the procedure, which allows drivers to pull in and quickly swap out their electric car’s battery rather than having to plug it in to recharge, a procedure that can take hours, people familiar with the matter said.
The goal is to enable drivers to change batteries at any facility, no matter what car they have, they said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter.
The efforts highlight the advantages that China, where about half of the world’s EVs are sold, has over other nations in promoting new technologies, given the government has the clout to push changes affecting entire industries. Demand for electric cars has been sputtering in China since it lowered subsidies for buyers last July, yet the country’s long-term goal is to phase out gas guzzlers.
A battery-swapping system would not only potentially save time for drivers – one of the biggest issues consumers have with EVs – it could also lower the upfront prices of buying electric vehicles.
That is because consumers would be able to buy the car and the batteries separately, or possibly just lease the batteries. As part of its planning, the government needs to figure out how taxation should take such scenarios into account.
