When it comes to electric vehicles, most people are concerned about charging the battery. If you’re on a long road trip, charging your EV can be frustrating, which leads to the concept of battery swapping stations. This article revolves around the concept of battery swapping stations and how it can prove to be a better player than charging stations in the long run.
What’s exactly a battery swapping station?
Suppose you’re on a trip in your EV and your battery dries up. In that case, you can either charge your battery (which is time consuming), or swap your dried up battery with a fully charged one. The process of swapping the batteries in your EV is done automatically, using high-tech machines at a special infrastructure called “Battery Swapping Station”.
What are the pros and cons of a battery swapping station?
Advantages
●Now no more waiting time to get your battery fully charged. Just a few minutes, and your EV will have a fully charged battery, swapped with the old dried one.
●It’s way more convenient when it comes to swapping batteries than charging it, since sometimes the charging stations might not be functional, which can be really frustrating.
Disadvantages
●Sometimes the battery swapping stations might not have batteries, compatible with your EV, readily available.
●It’s been technically proven that changing your EV batteries too often can degrade their output, quality, life, and charge/discharge cycle.
●Battery swapping stations find it challenging to maintain a high level of inventory to cater to ever-increasing demand for battery swapping.
What components are involved in a battery swapping station?
1.Battery Storage Rack: It’s an array of racks, where the charged batteries are stored.
2.Battery Management System: This is the computerized system to keep an eye on the battery charging status, temperature, voltage, and health monitoring.
3.Battery Swapping Mechanism: This robotic system takes charge of removing the depleted batteries from the EV and replaces it with a freshly charged one.
4.Battery Testing and Inspection Equipment: This computerized system inspects the batteries before installing them in a given EV.
5.Charging Infrastructure: The infrastructure where the actually depleted battery is charged is called the charging infrastructure.
6.Computerized Control System: This is the overall controller of the swapping system, just like a master controller, that ensures that all the systems are functioning well.
7.Safety Features: There are several safety protocols and systems like fire suppression, ventilation system, etc., that are classified under the safety features.
8.User Interface and Payment System: It’s a UI/UX, that allows customers to place the swapping order and make the payment.
9.Battery Tracking and Management Software: The entire system is controlled by the computerized control system that runs on a built-in software.
How does a battery swapping station function?
1.Arrival and Authentication: You’ll reach the swapping station and get your vehicle and membership authenticated using UI/UX at the station.
2.Battery Inspection & Removal: The robots at the station, upon authentication success will inspect your battery and remove it from your EV. Customers are expected not to interfere with the robotic process, as this can even lead to fire hazards.
3.Battery Storage and Testing: Your EV’s depleted battery will be sent to the depleted battery section and it’ll be tested for performance and efficiency to ensure that the battery is still fit for further use.
4.Battery Selection and Retrieval: Based on your EV, the system will select a compatible battery and retrieve it from its position in the rack.
5.Battery Installation, Integration and Authentication: Let the robots install a freshly charged battery in your EV, integrate it, so that its good to go, and update the database that your EV has the given battery number.
6.Battery Charging (optional): In some cases, the swapping station will charge your depleted battery right away using a fast charger, but that’s one in a thousand cases.
7.Completion and Payment: Your EV is good to go. All you have to do is pay the bill and depart.
Also read: Battery PCB – everything you need to know
Battery swapping station VS Battery charging station
Comparison Basis | Battery Swapping Station | Battery Charging Station |
Function | Replace the depleted battery with a charged one in an EV | Charge the depleted battery without removing it |
Charging Time | No chagrin time. Replacement time = 10 to 15 minutes in normal case | Can be at 4-8 hours depending on the charger output and battery depletion level |
Inventory & Facilities Needed | Huge infrastructure needed with complex mandatory facilities | Only charging points, chargers, and constant electricity supply needed |
Charger Requirement | Specific charger not needed since the battery is removed to charge it | Specific charger needed that must be compatible with a given EV |
What challenges are battery swapping stations facing?
- Need For Standardization
There’s a lack of standardization in battery size, shapes, connectors, etc. There needs to be standard to allow accommodation of a wide range of battery types and their charging infrastructure. - Lack Of Commercial Business Models
The approach to well-functioning of a swapping station in such a manner that it generates high profits and revenue still lacks. A commercial business model is needed that can bring out the best of a battery swapping station business. - Need For Battery Maintenance
Depleted batteries need to be maintained in the swapping station until they’re fitted in a customer’s vehicle. Or else, even a well-functioning battery might get damaged if not maintained properly. - Need For Battery Security System
Battery security system implies ensuring that the batteries have no leaks and are in a great working condition. This is possible with the help of a well-developed battery security system, but that still lacks.
Also read: What is energy storage BMS
How to choose an optimal battery swapping station supplier?
Since a battery swapping station business involves a lot of technical complexities, and running this business without proper technical mentor and trustworthy technology can be disastrous, you should choose an optimal battery swapping station supplier. Besides, an experienced company and its battery swapping station quality and safety level are the essential factors we should consider.
Final verdict
With the technology upgrading and electric battery becomes popular, the charging issue should have a good solution. Comparing with charging station, battery swapping station brings more convenience and benefits. After learning about the pros, cons, working structure, and challenges in a battery swapping station business, I believe it’s referable for you to select a satisfying battery swapping station company.
1.Battery Storage Rack
2.Battery Management System
3.Battery Swapping Mechanism
4.Battery Testing and Inspection Equipment
5.Charging Infrastructure
6.Computerized Control System
7.Safety Features
8.User Interface and Payment System
9.Battery Tracking and Management Software
1.Arrival and Authentication
2.Battery Inspection & Removal
3.Battery Storage and Testing
4.Battery Selection and Retrieval
5.Battery Installation, Integration and Authentication
6.Battery Charging (optional)
7.Completion and Payment
- Need For Standardization
- Lack Of Commercial Business Models
- Need For Battery Maintenance
- Need For Battery Security System
