Tesla Isn't Giving up on Battery Swaps
It looks as though Tesla is pursuing mobile battery swap technology for its cars.
In 2013, Tesla held an event to show off a 90-second battery swap as an alternative to charging. The first battery swap station then opened in late 2014 and by mid-2015, Tesla CEO Elon Musk admitted people didn’t really care for it. The company eventually shut down the station in late 2016, choosing to focus on expanding its Supercharger network. But a recently published patent application suggests the American electric automaker isn’t ready to give up on the technology.
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Published on September 14 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the patent application details an alternative method of battery swapping, which would be done on a trailer. It would allow the service to be mobile, meaning Tesla doesn’t have to build a permanent station in the middle of nowhere that no one will use.
“A battery-swapping system can be implemented on top of a trailer for increase mobility,” reads the patent application. “Generally, the battery-swapping operations should be performed in an enclosed or at least covered location. For example, a trailer can be custom built with sides that pop out for increased space, and ramps on either side so the vehicle can be driven in and out of the battery-swapping facility.”
In addition, depleted battery can be charged at the location of the swapping system, while fully charged battery packs can also be delivered to the location.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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