China’s Five-Minute EV Battery Swaps Could Shape the Future of Electric Cars

At a battery swap station near Beijing’s Olympic Sports Centre, a Nio electric vehicle receives a fully charged battery in under five minutes, offering a glimpse into a potential future for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.

Credit: NIO

Battery swapping, which involves replacing a depleted EV battery with a fully charged one, is gaining traction in China as an alternative to traditional plug-in charging.

China leads the world in battery swap development, with over 3,300 stations built by EV maker Nio and plans by battery giant Catl and oil company Sinopec to expand a nationwide battery-swapping ecosystem.

The technology is especially popular among commercial vehicles. In 2023, nearly half of China’s electric heavy-duty trucks were equipped with battery-swap capabilities.

Battery swaps offer a key advantage: speed. While fast charging can take 15 minutes or more, a battery swap can be completed in five minutes.

However, the system faces challenges. Only vehicles designed for battery swapping can use the stations, and availability of fully charged batteries is not always guaranteed.

China’s EV market has grown rapidly, with 16 million pure electric and 6 million hybrid vehicles on the road by 2023. That same year, China added 1,600 new battery swap stations, bringing the total to around 3,570.

Despite this growth, most private EV owners still rely on plug-in charging. Fast-charging technology is advancing quickly, with companies like BYD developing systems that can deliver 400 km of range in five minutes.

Battery ownership is another concern. Swapping requires drivers to give up their own battery, potentially receiving an older one in return. Some companies address this by selling cars without batteries, which are rented separately.

Commercial fleets, such as taxis and trucks, are better suited to battery swaps due to predictable routes and centralised management. The Chinese government supports this with subsidies and pilot programmes.

In 2021, Hainan Province offered a one-time subsidy covering 15% of the initial investment for battery swap stations. Three of the 11 cities in a national pilot programme focused on truck battery swaps.

Still, land and power grid limitations in urban areas can hinder expansion. To address this, some companies are developing mobile battery swap vehicles that charge batteries in low-cost areas and deploy them where needed.

Battery swap stations could also serve as energy storage hubs, helping stabilise the grid amid rising use of solar and wind power. One hundred stations could equal a 50MW energy storage facility.

Globally, battery swapping is being explored in India, Kenya, and Southeast Asia, particularly for scooters and motorbikes. Companies like Gogoro and Spiro are investing in infrastructure, while California-based Ample is partnering with automakers and cities.

In China, battery swaps may remain a niche solution, but they still address range anxiety for some drivers. As plug-in hybrid sales rise and pure EV growth slows, both fast charging and battery swaps are seen as vital to sustaining EV adoption.

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• China has over 3,570 battery swap stations, led by Nio and Catl

• Battery swaps take about five minutes, faster than most fast-charging options

• Commercial vehicles benefit most from battery swaps due to predictable usage

Source: BBC