Tesla Battery Swap Stations

[djminfll]

I had commented on this on a previous posting, under the impression this was only being done in Japan. But Tesla has started offering this here as well - a 30 minute charge is free, or a battery swap is $60-80 but only takes a minute and some change.

 

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-06-21/gone-in-90-seconds-teslas-battery-swapping-magic#r=lr-fst

 

 

FYI, they also achieved the highest NHSTA safety rating of any car ever rated. And in the test to see how much pressure the roof of the vehicle can take before it gets crushed, it broke the testing equipment!

 

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-06-21/gone-in-90-seconds-teslas-battery-swapping-magic#r=lr-fst

 

Hopefully some of these high-end goodies will trickle down to us common folk!

[corncobs]

Lets see if embedding the video works. This is just so cool.

 

Edited August 21, 2013 by corncobs

[djminfll]

Embedding the video did work, thanks for that! :D

[jeff_h]

a battery swap is $60-80 but only takes a minute and some change.

 

 

Doesn't that car have a range about 250 miles on a charge? So not only do you have big money for the initial cost of the car, to go 250 miles costs $60-80? One could drive an Expedition with 12MPG and cost about the same to go 250 miles, right? Just seems very cost-inefficient.

[corncobs]

You are correct Sir but if you relax for 30 min it doesn't cost you anything (for now).

In addition if you do a roadtrip once or twice a year it's still cheaper since you don't have to drive a 12 MPG Expedition on your daily commute.

[jeff_h]

You are correct Sir but if you relax for 30 min it doesn't cost you anything (for now).

In addition if you do a roadtrip once or twice a year it's still cheaper since you don't have to drive a 12 MPG Expedition on your daily commute.

 

Yeah I agree for the occasional trip where this would be used, sure that would work... but shelling that kind of money out on a recurring basis, no thanks!

[kuzzi]

Aluminum is awesome when designed and oriented properly. Super easy to machine too.

[djminfll]

Tesla is getting all kinds of favorable press these days - in addition to these stories, Elon Musk was on the CBS Morning News today, stating that he anticipates an "affordable" Tesla within the next 3 to 4 years. He has achieved what the Big 3 have not yet been able to do, so maybe he can accomplish this as well. They said the GM has torn down a Tesla to research.

[hybridbear]

Tesla is getting all kinds of favorable press these days - in addition to these stories, Elon Musk was on the CBS Morning News today, stating that he anticipates an "affordable" Tesla within the next 3 to 4 years. He has achieved what the Big 3 have not yet been able to do, so maybe he can accomplish this as well. They said the GM has torn down a Tesla to research.

I doubt GM is the only one. Nissan is the only big automaker to make a serious play into BEVs with the Leaf. I bet Nissan has to be the most nervous. If Tesla can successfully make a car around the price of the Leaf but that carries the Tesla image the Leaf will be in serious trouble. So far Tesla is flying high, but it only takes one mistake by a company to cost themselves millions or billions of dollars. I hope Tesla doesn't falter.

[djminfll]

I doubt GM is the only one. Nissan is the only big automaker to make a serious play into BEVs with the Leaf. I bet Nissan has to be the most nervous. If Tesla can successfully make a car around the price of the Leaf but that carries the Tesla image the Leaf will be in serious trouble. So far Tesla is flying high, but it only takes one mistake by a company to cost themselves millions or billions of dollars. I hope Tesla doesn't falter.

Chevrolet has dropped the price of the 2014 Volt by $5000, meaning you can buy a 2014 Volt for under $30,000. Once the R&D costs are made up, the costs can drop, so this would probably apply to Nissan as well. But the Leaf range is under 100 miles and the Tesla is up to 300 miles. That is probably going to be a deal breaker for most people.

[kuzzi]

Another interesting point to these battery swaps....

 

If you've had your Tesla (and original batteries) for 10+ years and your batteries are starting to experience aging issues, pull up to one of these swap locations, pay 80 bucks and get a brand new set.

[corncobs]

Another interesting point to these battery swaps....

 

If you've had your Tesla (and original batteries) for 10+ years and your batteries are starting to experience aging issues, pull up to one of these swap locations, pay 80 bucks and get a brand new set.

Not so fast I read somewhere that the swap price depends on the battery age difference. So if you get a battery that's newer then your current one you pay more at the BatSwap or vice versa pay less if your original battery is newer. Edited August 21, 2013 by corncobs

[kuzzi]

Not so fast I read somewhere that the swap price depends on the battery age difference. So if you get a battery that's newer then your current one you pay more at the BatSwap or vice versa pay less if your original battery is newer.

I expect everything to be serialized as well. And since everything will be charged automatically, they will be able to keep up with how old your original battery is even if you have done 100 swaps in 10 years.

[jeff_h]

Another interesting point to these battery swaps....

 

If you've had your Tesla (and original batteries) for 10+ years and your batteries are starting to experience aging issues, pull up to one of these swap locations, pay 80 bucks and get a brand new set.

...or get the retread that the last guy was anxious to ditch?

[hybridbear]

...or get the retread that the last guy was anxious to ditch?

I believe they also said that they won't keep old batteries at the swap stations. If someone drops off an old battery and doesn't want it back then Tesla won't give it to someone else if its range will be limited. With how well batteries hold up though I doubt this will be much of an issue.

[hybridbear]

Yeah I agree for the occasional trip where this would be used, sure that would work... but shelling that kind of money out on a recurring basis, no thanks!

You're right, that's why the battery swap isn't designed to be an every day occurrence. It should be rare for most owners and is just for road trips when they can't spare 30 mins for a free charge.

[djminfll]

I expect everything to be serialized as well. And since everything will be charged automatically, they will be able to keep up with how old your original battery is even if you have done 100 swaps in 10 years.

 

 

I believe they also said that they won't keep old batteries at the swap stations. If someone drops off an old battery and doesn't want it back then Tesla won't give it to someone else if its range will be limited. With how well batteries hold up though I doubt this will be much of an issue.

I would imagine it would work like when you swap your tank of propane for the grill - if your tank is beat up, they don't put it back into circulation, and they will apply a surcharge for swapping out an old one.

[acdii]

Dont forget Ford has a foot in the game too. The Focus Electric.