I think we chose an amount together with our investors that made sense. It's cheaper to build and cheaper to install. Some experts are skeptical that even this altered vision of battery swapping is practical. Celebrate a decade of fun, climate-friendly transportation with this oral history of the bike-share program. Ample joins several other companies, past and present, with similar ideas. Hes also skeptical that people will be willing to take a chance on availability. If you drive a Nio, you do have the option to purchase the battery outright when you buy the car. Amples new swapping stations look like Silicon Valleydesigned car washes, all gleaming white and rounded corners. Once thats installed in the car, we can swap the modules out of it we can always get to within 10 percent sometimes 10 percent lower, sometimes 10 percent higher in capacity, but our interface with the vehicle is exactly the same. We dont view OEMs as our customers. That allows the battery to now adapt to the vehicle but also abstract the chemistry," he explained. Do you feel like investors are sort of more up to speed now than they have been in the last couple of years as far as some of this technology goes? Battery swapping has long been a dream solution for the infrastructure problem standing in the way of wide electric vehicle adoption. Were better than some of them, but were not going to tell you whom. For the time being, those customers will be fleets, not individual drivers. Were talking as the government here is still trying to put the final touches on a somewhat relatively big infrastructure deal, and thats obviously a big focus of this administration. Even if someone else invents a better chemistry, the transition takes five to seven years and thats what were seeing. (Vox), Youve probably never heard of the Loan Programs Office in the US Department of Energy, but the office and its director are a major driving force in clean energy today. Ive personally gotten very into cannellini beans recently. The cost of this solution is high, though. So I think investors definitely see the opportunity. The associated service is called E-Energee. In total, six Chinese companies including Nio plan to have 26,000 installed battery-swap stations in the country by 2025, according to projections by BNEF, an energy research firm. (Ive converted everything to US dollars here, using May 2023 conversion rates.). (The costs are all a bit higher if you opt for the 100 kWh battery, but the idea is the same.) Leveraging its experience working with rideshare companies like Uber and last-mile delivery startup Sally, Ample has been able to not only test its modular battery swap technology but also gather plenty of data to address client needs. Range anxietywhether it exists or notmeans that most people want an EV with the biggest possible battery and greatest theoretical range, even if they only conduct a road trip once a year. Recycling lithium-ion batteries is taking off thanks to companies like Redwood Materials and could help the transition to renewable energy. Amongst the companies in the swapping business, companies like Nio and Aulton New Energy have built 1,400 battery-swap stations nationwide and plan to grow the number to 26,000 by 2025. Whats your pitch to fleet customers to win them over to your approach versus installing five Level 2 chargers or a couple DC fast chargers and going that way. There's also the tantalizing possibility of vehicles that gain more range over time, beyond the improvements that are possible with software updates. In total, the companys stations have performed 20 million swaps, and its newest stations can perform 400 a day. But the ultimate vision is a drop-in replacement that allows people on commutes or road trips to swap out their EV battery and be on their way. And so I think right now, its real. That's because Ample can update the chemistry or design of its modules and roll them out to vehicles already on the road. In addition, as you work with every OEM, they may have additional tests that they want. The company offers three different battery options with different capacities, with each fitting into any and all vehicles it makes. So instead of building one big location able to handle hundreds of cars a day, Ample's plan is to build numerous small stations, which can be deployed quickly. I think battery swapping is unlikely to be the primary way that we manage batteries for the general vehicle fleet, says Jeremy Michalek, a professor of engineering and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University. "That has the same shape, the same bolt fasteners, the same connector as the original battery," Hassounah said. I think its a very expensive solution, he says. Then Ample plugs a bunch of battery modules into that adapter. Whats more, Ample is also going out and sourcing the cells that go in the modular packs, meaning it has to elbow its way into an extremely competitive market for batteries at a time when the worlds biggest automakers are literally throwing billions of dollars at trying to bring more battery capacity online. Ample raises $160 million on the promise of battery swapping Building one battery pack thats tightly integrated into the car can allow automakers to get the best optimization; they run the software that controls the pack, integrate it physically in the layout, knowing every centimeter matters when were talking about energy density. (E&E News), The problem, though, is that these rules still arent enough to meet climate goals for the power sector. So to a great degree, very often its less about kind of coming up with an idea that is completely new and no one has ever thought through, because most likely, if no one ever thought about it, it probably has no merit, right? Instead of owning the batteries that power our EVs, some companies want to rethink our relationship and are pushing batteries as a service. Carmakers dont need to redesign their cars to work with the Ample technology. Battery swapping: The advantages and disadvantages, explained Speaking of some of those considerations, what is your approach for the end of life of these batteries? Should we go get them? (Inside Climate News), A lot of the buzz around these new rules is about how they treat carbon capture and storage, a technology thats still expensive and largely unproven. Is there a political component to this, too? So our station actually needs no construction, no digging in the ground. While many people think of Gogoro as an electric scooter company, it's perhaps more accurate to . Ample's battery swap station supports a variety of EVs. In the meantime, heres a video of Amples original swap station design. Chinese EV automaker NIO has already rooted its flag in the soil of Europe, yet is still merely getting started with its plans to expand beyond its home turf. That could cut costs and even reduce the total quantity of materials needed to build batteries for EV fleets. Most EV drivers dont drive more than the range of the car, Geoffrey Hinton tells us why hes now scared of the tech he helped build, ChatGPT is going to change education, not destroy it, Meet the people who use Notion to plan their whole lives. But only one can boast near total domination of the market: Gogoro. It only takes a few minutes for a battery swap. Plug-in hybrids wont get the world to zero emissions, but they can help cut climate impacts somewhat. EV battery swapping startup Ample charges up operations in - TechCrunch Startup Ample Working on 10-Minute Electric Car Battery Swapping For that monthly fee, you get a couple of swaps or a set amount of rapid charging. He lives in Washington, DC. still take more than 20 minutes to charge back to 80 percent, with a single experimental station midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, usually in the context of Tesla's failed experiment. Try refreshing this page and updating them one But at least for now, once we ditch gas pumps, well be plugging in on road trips. In less than five minutes, you go from almost empty to 100% charged, ready to continue on your way. For a third-party company like Better Place or Ample to gain ground, it must find a way to be compatible with vehicles hitting the road. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. This next chapter in US battery swaps is the culmination of thousands of previous swaps performed by Ample, which has now cut its processes down to a mere five minutes. One little-known group is having a huge influence on the climate goals of major corporations. The automaker has about 1,400 commercial battery-swap stations deployed; most are in China, though the company has started expanding operations into European countries like Norway and the Netherlands as well. "The moment you break the battery into smaller modular pieces, a lot of things become easier," said Khaled Hassounah, one of Ample's co-founders. At the core of Amples technology is our modular, swappable, battery architecture. So we need a different approach that can create an infrastructure that can be used by multiple automakers without them having to go and become a fully vertically integrated provider. more time. As battery density increases, Ample maintains the same delivery efficiency. Founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1899, MIT Technology Review is a world-renowned, independent media company whose insight, analysis, reviews, interviews and live events explain the newest technologies and their commercial, social and political impact. It might be harder to keep consistently high-quality batteries in stock than companies are letting on, says Gil Tal, director of the plug-in hybrid and electric-vehicle research center at the University of California, Davis. Better Place was one of the most well-known battery-swap ventures. Gogoro named global leader in light electric vehicle battery swapping, passes 200 million swaps. Khaled Hassounah: Im just gonna say one thing and then John you should comment on this. And then the operational complexity is tremendous. So far, Amples swapping stations are compatible with two vehicle models that have the companys special batteries installed: the Nissan Leaf and the Kia Niro. Does it help that China is working on this idea in the sense that you can say, Hey, we need this too? knowing how the reflection of what theyre doing versus what were doing is important to the policymakers in this country? I see that there are some familiar names involved in this round. Gogoro cant seem to slow down these days, announcing expansion after expansion. Ample has worked with several OEMs to adapt their EVs to be able to accept its modular battery design. So Google was not the first search engine, Tesla was not the first electric car. So, Ample is able to deliver energy at a cost that is 10-20% cheaper than gas. Its really very basic. Were not going to the OEMs and giving them a battery and saying even though you optimized this other battery to have the right shape, to have the right software interface etc, you should do something else. Were actually doing the opposite, which is we build our technology in a way where we adapt to how they decide to build the car and thats true for all ten car models we integrate with. How Ample is bringing battery swapping to the U.S. - CNBC The companys president recently shared that NIO plans to offer battery lease programs and a huge expansion of available swap stations as a strategy to entice more EU customers and gain a larger chunk of the growing EV market overseas. In 2007, Better Place tried to make the idea work, but EVs were too much in their infancy, and Israel was too small a market for that to happen. And that they understand. Battery EVs, on the other hand, need to be sold with as much battery as can be crammed underneath the cabin, and even the fastest-charging BEVs currently on sale still take more than 20 minutes to charge back to 80 percentand even then only with 350 kW fast chargers that are still relatively uncommon. Comprehensive company profiles. It has the same software interface, has an electrical interface, attaches at exactly the same point, and provides the same level of security that you expect. And that kind of simplification is what they should be easy for them because even for different chemistry we just adjust it and plug it in. New funding in the US is pushing the change, and I love how these charts show the shift. The company has designed an extremely small footprint for its swap. Your battery will improve over time. So for us, our pitch is very simple. When a vehicle is ready for a swap, the driver motors up to the station. When it comes to battery-swapping electric scooters, there are several names floating around out there. So over time that will lower the costs for everyone, but also increase the utilization of it before we have to go and completely recycle the batteries. But without major financial subsidies and quicker regulatory processes, some executives are doubtful that the bloc can reach production goals. Sodium-based batteries could start hitting the market this year, if companies follow through on their plans. At . Khaled Hassounah: But one thing we have to be careful with is also making the assumption that were just taking technology from China and applying it to the West, because we have been working on this long before we even knew China was doing battery swapping. Uber is already using a few Ample stations in the Bay Area and supports a handful of vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and Kia Niro EVs. How 5-minute battery swaps could get more EVs on the road Khaled Hassounah: This round is kind of led by existing investors whove already been supporting Ample for a while, plus external investors. On Wednesday morning in San Francisco, a startup called Ample launched its new electric vehicle battery-swap technology. With billions of dollars headed toward charging infrastructure as part of the Biden administrations push to clean up transportation emissions, as well as a flurry of investments and mergers happening in the electric vehicle space, there may be no better time for Ample to take its shot. Does that in turn create any more work for the OEMs on maybe the software side of having to account for what chemistries go into the battery? Tesla famously tried but then abandoned the idea half a. But on the flip side, some EV experts arent so sure the battery-swapping picture would turn out quite so rosy. Ample then turns around and provides these vehicles (and the battery swap infrastructure) to fleets that want to go electric. Battery Swapping for EVs Is Big in China. Here's How It Works It depends. Global Battery Swapping Market 2023 Growth Factor - BattSwap - openPR.com (Curbed), School buses are going electric. John de Souza: The good news is that you have standards that you have to go through and certifications that you have to do to demonstrate that [these batteries] are safe enough to go into the cars. If you look back a few years, initially it was sort of, Will electric cars ever happen? or, Is it electric, is it hydrogen? I think that game has played out where now [people] see its electric. Being able to take them out is very straightforward because theyre literally being taken out every time you get energy into the into the vehicle so as they go out we take them out, theyre built in a way where we can immediately use them in second life. This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review's weekly climate newsletter. So, in a way we just have to think practically on how we get there, and wed much rather kind of focus on that and say, Listen, China China China and then thats how you split people because youre not making a solid, reasonable argument that makes sense. If you continue to get this message, Nios swap stations move its batteries around all in one piece. [9] Japan: The Japanese government's goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The batteries have a certain life cycle, its more or less predictable if you optimally charge them, they hit X number of cycles, and their capacity goes below [Y]. Do what you do right now. By Mark Kane 17 September 2022. Ample Why now? The idea of slow-charging EV batteries and then quickly swapping spent packs for fresh ones is not exactly new. Swappable batteries are the key to making light electric motorcycles and electric scooters practical for city residents and apartment dwellers who lack a private charging spot at hom, and now a promising battery standard known as the Swappable Battery Motorcycle Consortium (SBMC) has grown from just four to a total of 21 members, hoping to make that dream closer to reality. The company has truly become the only . Please send any tips or suggestions, or dog photos to him at scooter@9to5mac.com, Stay up to date with the latest content by, Electric Vehicle Price Guide best prices for dealers in the US, $31 million in Series A funding from Shell, Luna 6.5kW Talaria XXX goes on sale for game-changing $2995 (U), Check out this cool camper & kitchen kit for the VW ID.Buzz, Tesla boosts referral program to help sales, $1000 off and 3 months of free Full Self-Driving, Tesla surprises by gaining full $7,500 tax credit on cheapest Model 3, now starts at $30,000, Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos. John de Souza: Our approach with the OEMs is to give them an easy way to embrace this technology, and we said, we dont want them to change the car, we dont want them to have to change what they do. Every make and model of electric vehicle on the road today has a different battery design, shape, and chemistry. The battery has a certain envelope it can work within, and certain attachment points at which you attach to the chassis to provide the structural rigidity needed. The Philippines will be the next destination on Gogoros growing world map of battery-swapping destinations. We hope to check out its second-generation station up close soon. The latest salvo in a battery swapping electric scooter arms race will see Taiwanese scooter giant KYMCO enter Europe via Italy with its Ionex electric scooters. I think people pay a bit more attention. Nio has about 300,000 vehicles on the road and about 1,400 of its own battery-swap stations up and running. Battery Swapping: A Way To Get Your EV Charged Under 10 Mins - Forbes Most EV drivers dont drive more than the range of the car, Tal says. So it allows them from a business perspective to say, for the people that can use charging, the people who charge overnight at home, or whatever the situation is, well continue to offer a solution. However, Ample thinks the time is right to try again. Have you ever tried to rent a car at an airport during a storm, or find a spot for your Citi Bike at a big event? I mean we had to kind of fundamentally change one core aspect to it which is this idea of making it modular, because if you shift your mentality and say Okay, its not one big bulk battery Im going to move, Im going to break it into smaller pieces, a lot of things become a lot easier. Theres a somewhat long history to this idea, and Im interested in what it feels like to try to build up this company now, when there is a much different set of circumstances like more money in the space and wider adoption of EVs. Hondas combustion engine outboard motors are a common sight on the back of boats in marinas around the world. Scooter Doll is a writer, designer and tech enthusiast born in Chicago and based on the West Coast. One oft-heard concern about battery swaps (usually in the context of Tesla's failed experiment) was the problem of Someone Else's Battery. In total, six Chinese companies including Nio plan to have 26,000 installed battery-swap stations in the country by 2025, according to projections by BNEF, an energy research firm. The widespread use of Gogoros batteries by other manufacturers has helped it become the de facto standard in battery swapping. The report includes the overall information and data on the market size, shares, and growth factors from 2023 to 2032. And for the company, its easier to track and service batteries. What is Battery Swapping and How is It Relevant Today? On its website, the company says its mission is "to accelerate the transition to electric mobility by offering an energy delivery . 2023 Vox Media, LLC. The company's president recently shared that NIO plans to offer battery lease programs and a huge expansion of available swap stations as a strategy to entice more EU customers and gain a larger . Chinese EV automaker NIO has begun operations of its first EV battery swap station in the country of Denmark. The Current State of EV Battery Swapping - NIO Heat batteries could help cut emissions by providing new routes to use solar and wind power. The concept isn't new. The stations can also be stacked side-by-side so that multiple EVs can receive swaps simultaneously. Its a move that follows Gogoros tried and true strategy of entering countries with an initial focus on business customers and then expanding to private consumers. using a few Ample stations in the Bay Area, basically start demanding a national standard, Apple touts multibillion-dollar Broadcom deal for 5G and wireless tech built in the US, How to back up your iPhone with or without iCloud, Miles Morales swings into Fortnite and hes bringing web shooters back with him, Amazons new Fire Max 11 tablet aims for premium vibes and productivity. The automaker has 300,000 vehicles on the road, and about 60% of drivers have used swap stations, according to the companys data. Im fascinated by this potential shift in ownership for batteries, and I think if the vision turns out to be the reality, there are a lot of potential upsides. Battery swapping has long been a dream solution for the infrastructure problem standing in the way of wide electric vehicle adoption. In this case, no. Opportunity and Challenges Sun Mobility - Quick Interchange Station Partnerships - Microsoft, Uber, Piaggio, SmartE, Ashok Leyland, Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board, Indian Oil Corporation The goal with Ample is to convince automakers to make versions of their electric vehicles that have a sort of adapter plate instead of a full battery pack, while everything else stays the same. You press a button on an app and the station platform raises the car, unscrews the battery powering your EV, and installs a new one in its place. A lot of the innovation now is the chemistry. You expect its going to be $3-$5,000. Thats because any car on the Ample platform will benefit from the latest improvements in battery technology. The ability to rent batteries could mean less stress about battery degradation for drivers, according to Fei Shen, the VP of power management at Nio. And Hassounah and de Souza told me that there are pilot deployments in the works for Europe and Japan. Also Read: What is Battery Swapping? But getting the metal into a form thats useful for the energy transition involves an intense chemical process and a lot of waste that the country is going to have to reckon with. Really the LGs, Panasonics, CATLs of the world are the ones that are doing most of the innovations to get more energy into the form factor. Netflix, Paramount+, and of course Im glued to the latest season of Succession, so now Im back on HBO Max too. The company just announced annual 2022 figures that show its batteries powered 90% of the electric scooters sold in its domestic market. John de Souza: I think the highest level of the question is do [we] want to stay private or do [we want to be] going public. But there is a capacity tradeoff at some level, you said 10 percent? And people are coming up with smart software, which is how do you drip [electricity] to different people.. which basically doesnt work that well. So we have to do the same tests as anybody else putting batteries in cars. "One of them is the station becomes a lot simpler. All Rights Reserved, By submitting your email, you agree to our. How 5-minute battery swaps could get more EVs on the road, How old batteries will help power tomorrows EVs. You might not find one at your local car dealership. more time. The Green Future Index 2023 is the third edition of the comparative ranking of 76 nations and territories on their ability to develop a sustainable, low-carbon future.
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