The Case For Swappable Batteries
Being able to swap out batteries may not be as important on larger products such as eBikes, however the smaller the electric device, especially eScooters and eBoards, also known as micromobility devices, the smaller the battery that can be installed and the more important it is to be able to “swap out” a battery very quickly to continue enjoying your ride.
The focus on swappable batteries is only a recent (2019) phenomenon but is really gaining traction not only with owners using off-road scooters who typically ride further but also with rental operators.
European manufacturers are committing to new standards of social and environmental sustainability across the life cycle of an electric scooter.
Swappable batteries are particularly relevant to companies that rent or hire electric scooters, as part of the fleet will be “down” and not out for rent whilst it is being charged. With a fleet of scooters that all have swappable batteries this speeds up the turnaround and availability of the device itself as batteries are swapped and the scooter is once again available for hire.
This has a direct impact on the number of scooters that will be required as somewhere between 20% – 40% of scooters will be off the road at any one time needing to be charged. If all are able to have their batteries swapped out then the scooter is available straight away, with no downtime and no need to have “spare” electric scooters lying idle being charged. This is also a saving on outright ownership of electric scooters, just simply needing to purchase swappable batteries.
For an owner, this is also a very pleasing development. Scooters are now being made more robust, so it is simple to swap out the battery when using the scooter for long periods of time and this is also appealing as batteries reach “end of life”, and the scooter still has years of service left.
This gives the user a simple way to recycle the battery saving on landfill, and simply purchase a replacement battery for a perfectly good scooter that has much more life
There are an increasing number of eScooter manufacturers that are focusing on models with swappable batteries
The Portable Powerhouse: Why Swappable Batteries Are the Way to Go
Electric Scooters with swappable, or detachable, batteries
VDEOI Electric Scooter for Adults with Detachable Battery
The VDEOI features a small size detachable battery pack that can be taken out for charging at any time. The battery can be replaced in 3 seconds
Highlights
- 400W Brushless Motor
- Maximum Speed 19MPH
- 15 Miles Travel Distance
- Innovative Swappable Battery, can be exchanged in 3 seconds
- Multifunctional LED Display
- Fast One-step Folding System
- IP66 Waterproof Rating
- 20° Climbing Incline
- 9” Shock Absorbing Tires
- Triple Braking System (foot brake, front EBS brake and rear disc brake)
- Front & Rear Lights
Hiboy S2R Electric Scooter, Upgraded Detachable Battery
Hiboy’s Innovative Battery Design, quick 3 second battery changeover, with regenerative battery design
Highlights
- 350W Brushless Hub Motor
- 19MPH Maximum Speed
- 17 Miles Travel Range
- Hiboy Electric Scooter 3 Lighting System
- Double Braking System
- 15° Hill Grade
- Portable Folding Design
- Customizable Cruise & Speed Control
- Innovative Quick Battery Replacement Design
- Hiboy Phone App to Customize Your Experience
Hover-1 Blackhawk Electric Kick Scooter with Removable Battery
Equipped with a powerful embedded removable battery and advanced off-road pneumatic 10” air-filled tires.
Highlights
- 350W Brushless High Performance Motor
- 19MPH Maximum Speed
- Travel Up To 26 Miles
Self-healing 10” Pneumatic Tires providing maximum comfort on rough surfaces or speed bumps
- Quick Fold Release
- 40 Cell Removeable Lithium Ion Battery
- Suitable For Ages 14+
- IP54 Water Resistance
The Case For Non-Swappable Batteries
Swappable batteries seem like a perfect answer to running out of power and being able to easily and quickly “recharge” and be on your way, but there are other considerations
For larger products such as electric vehicles, then this certainly makes sense, as all attempts to date to set up a system where the batteries of an EV are quickly replaced requires that the design and access to the battery compartment and the design of the physical batteries as well as the voltage, etc need to be standardized as the swap out requires a robotic facility that can be driven into and the batteries replaced in a few minutes. Currently, this is not feasible and any projects or prototypes started have not got off the ground and in fact have gone bust
Looking at micromobility products specifically electric scooters, there are also risks. Although they appear to offer a simple solution and for an individual owner the risks are minimized and can be more easily managed.
The greatest risk is with fleets of electric scooters where the scooters are hired or rented out for short periods general for a day. Every time a battery is handled there are risks of damaging the battery pack or the battery compartment. Swappable batteries need to have an accessible compartment, which can be subject to vandalism no matter how good the design is. Where is the battery compartment located? Under the desk or in the stem, as this has a bearing on accessibility and tamper-proof qualities.
Some further thoughts on non-swappable batteries
The article “Understanding the risks of swappable eScooter batteries” by Scott Rushforth Chief Vehicle Officer at Bird Bike gives an excellent overview and reasoning why Bird Bike are stying with Non-Swappable Batteries for the present.
In conclusion, there are Pros and Cons to both sides of the discussion, and as technology continues to improve with the actual scooter design as well as improvements in battery technology. This article by “To Swap or Not to Swap” by Paul Steely White in LINK by Superpedestrian, gives a well-balanced review
Finally
The cost/benefit analyses that many are using to evaluate the value of swappables is flawed, says Eric Barber, Superpedestrian’s Director of Engineering. There are definitely reasons swappables are worth exploring, but there are just as many unanswered questions, like, which battery architecture uses the fewest batteries in the long-term?
Eric Barber, Superpedestrian’s Director of Engineering