Battery Swapping Vs EV Charging Stations | Which Makes Sense?

As the automotive industry is moving forward, initiatives are being taken to normalize EVs. the recently revealed budget introduced a new battery swapping policy encouraging to cater battery energy as a service.

Also Read: How the Union Budget 2022 Is a Booster For Electric Vehicles!

Charging stations are the conventional method to charge EVs but are time-consuming. The country’s largest charging station was also recently inaugurated at the Delhi-Jaipur highway in Gurugram, with a capacity to charge 100 vehicles. With progress being made at both ends, let’s see which one makes more sense?

• Need For Swapping
  

  

  The plug-in chargers provided with the electric vehicles are slow and can only charge one vehicle at a time. Some manufacturers do provide fast chargers, but even, in that case, the user must wait at least an hour or two.

  Also Read: Should You Really Consider Buying An Electric Car Right Now?

  This also contributes towards reducing the upfront price of EVs and makes them more affordable & feasible for the people. This also allows a longer battery life as the battery will always be in professional hands with no chances of over/under charging, and it will be kept in the best running condition.

• Challenges
  

  

  While initiatives are being taken to normalize these running methods, there are challenges in both cases. Introducing charging stations requires considerable investment for both the technology & the land to place the station. In addition to that, EV-specific stations can be added to existing stations, but it requires a reconsideration of the layout.

  Battery swapping, on the other hand, seems more convenient. Companies such as Tata, Shell are working on adding more charging stations throughout the country. Other brands are also working and investing in the sector.

  Also Read: Lithium-ion Battery | Is it Really the FUTURE of Automotive Batteries!?!

  Battery swapping allows the users to drive along without worrying about battery health. They can enjoy ease without worrying about battery degradation and enjoy the dividends of the new technology. With centralized management, closed-loop management system batteries can be further re-used in energy & solar applications.

  

• Standardization
  

  

  As battery-swapping seems like a more feasible approach, there needs to be a standardization for the same. The FAME-II scheme has an approach of fixed batteries in mind hence it needs to be further extended and flexible towards the swapping policy.

  The ISO standards related to battery swapping are also a work in progress. As every company & product is different so are their batteries. Convincing the manufacturers to set a unified standard to develop the batteries is hard as there is always a battle for control.

  Also Read: 10 Cars With Wireless Charging Feature In India

  As both of these methods are a work in progress no statements can be made about which one would be implied by the majority of manufacturers & the government. What do you think is more feasible?