Robotic Drive-Thru Swaps EV Batteries in 5 Minutes

Startup Ample introduces its new robotic swapping station that can change an electric vehicle's battery in five minutes.

Read the CNET Article for more information:

0:00 Intro
0:50 Swapping Station Drive through
1:58 How Ample swaps an EV battery in 5 minutes
2:30 How Ample will deploy battery swapping stations

#ev #electriccar #battery

[pcproffy]

Dude this is what I've been saying for years. We need battery standardization. Then you can have battery hot swap stations

[chrismv]

I think you're not explaining everything about the process. I would imagine that any EV would have to be modified to use this system of battery swooping. Additionally, does the modification change the EV's ability to use the current charging methods?

[SSS-mpth]

Unlikely that manufacturers will adopt a standard battery configuration or warranty swapped in batteries. Seems fine for delivery trucks and similar commercial applications.

[Anthony-djnd]

Beats having to spend an arm and a leg to replace the battery. Modular Cars.

[DDGGVVMM]

While Nio has already built 1500 swapping stations worldwide..

[kevinbell]

I have made drawings and been pushing for this method of LARGE EV power solution for over 3 years now.

Glad to see it's finally being realized as a practical solution.

This way SMALLER LIGHTER short-range batteries can be used. Increasing vehicle mobility and needs for an extra heavy-duty frame. Very logical to "fill up/replace" the battery instead of relying on a single HUGE BATTERY that must have power for extended range. That is also more dangerous and flammable as the size and weight increases.

[tonys]

Not for me, I take very good care of my battery, I’ve no idea how trashed the new battery is. This is a perfect solution for commercial, Uber, Taxi batteries.

[JasonB]

Those battery swap stations looks expensive. The battery modules taken out look pretty small so the cars don’t seem to have much range. The question is can they charge it like normal when they are not near a battery swap station?

[hardikarjas]

Why does the host look like Linus Sebastian

[mibox]

I love the idea, but it will never go mainstream especially if the battery is a structural component to the frame plus almost every ev has a unique battery container or has some kind of metal shielding for the battery .

[starpoint]

I see big issues here... batteries have a "Cycle" life as in how many times you can discharge/charge them. Someone can bring their 34 month old battery in, get a newer one for the cost of a charge yet their battery is close to the recommended 3 year swap out point..

What would be more ideal is having this be a super fast and sealed charging station where your battery is removed from car, moved to a sealed protected and chilled charging area, rapid charged, then put back into the car. Even if it took 15 minutes which would be WAY fast for the car it would be acceptable..

Course what places like hotels and parking garages should do is set up robotic parking of charged cars. Person parks, gives the spot # and says I need to charge the car. a robotic attendant (or even a human one - job creation?) moves the car to a charging station and plugs it in and while it is charging, moves a charged car in the next slot (have 4-6 charging stations to a parking spot and text the owner that its charged and returned to its spot.

[Hallohallo.]

Sorry but we have this system up and running in Germany. The company is called NIO.

[Tsaki]

Thanks for the update. Lots of questions still - like how much will the conversion to a Ample battery cost? How much does the actual swap cost? What aH rating is the Ample battery? Does the conversion still allow normal charging also - or only swapping? Glad to see innovation is continuing, I will continue to monitor the situation. The battery range and charging are the biggest hinderance to going fully electric.

[briannave]

How do they know they aren’t getting an old battery that needs replaced and how would you like to get someone’s old battery?

[sleepyjoe]

Isn't this just a copy of China's NIO battery swapping stations?

[tetzet]

Replaceable phones batteries can be like this. Power bank like cassette tape where you insert batteries to charge.

[jerickr]

This would make sense as an add-on to an existing car's primary battery unit, like in the trunk. I just don't see how every EV maker will want to give away their power, no pun intended.

[eddiec]

Good luck swapping it out in a -20C blizzard, though. Having said that, it should be mandatory for ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.

[amirmoradi]

Seems kinda pointless since we are now getting EVs that can charge to 80% in 15 minutes. It might be worth it for fleet cars like autonomous taxis.

[MarkMiller]

Nio’s stations came out years ago and looks a lot more premium