Is THIS The Future Of Batteries? HINT: It's Easier Than Recharging For 3-6 Hrs

Several months ago I recall the mentioning about the possibility of switchable batteries. And, we all commented "Huh," "How," and "WTF?"

To say the least, we were all stumped how it could be done in an efficient and standardized manner.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes below...

Popular Science reports:

There are currently more than 60,000 taxis cruising around Japan, a number that accounts for 20 percent of the country's CO₂ emissions. To promote environmental health, the Japanese government has joined with Better Place, a US firm specializing in electric vehicle development, to come up with a solution: electric taxis powered by replaceable batteries. Today, three of the taxis will begin their circuit during a 90-day experiment funded by Japan's energy agency.

In a blog entry written for Better Place's website, Kiyota Fujii, president of the firm's Japan unit, explains how the vehicles run continuously. Unlike many other EVs, which need long recharging periods after half a day's work, Better Place's taxis can make periodic stops at battery-exchanging stations. It takes less time to switch the batteries than it does to fill a conventional vehicle with gasoline...

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marcipaw - 4/26/2010 9:57:10 PM

+4 Boost

In town called Zermatt in Switzerland are public transportation buses that are running on rechargeable batteries for years now. It takes about 5 minutes to slide new batteries in. BTW only combustion engine vehicles in there are police and doctor

nguyenvuminh - 4/26/2010 11:10:53 PM

+2 Boost

Seems like a good idea. Things that help us move away from the traditional petrol engine are fine with me, which includes electricity, hybrid (using rechargeable batteries as opposed to throw aways), clean diesel.

Colmfarl - 4/27/2010 2:21:06 PM

+1 Boost

Here's how Renault do it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3YP6mzrRjQ

thstone - 4/27/2010 7:28:14 PM

+1 Boost

I still say WTF!

For this approach to work all of the manufacturers would have to agree on a battery standard which defines the physical dimensions, weight, and vehicle and charging interfaces. Otherwise, we will end up with a unique battery configuration for each vehicle and there is no way that a swap in/out location could stock all of the configurations.

This idea might work for fleets limited to one one-vehicle (and thus, one battery) type but its dead on arrival for widespread public use.