Removable / swappable pack options?

TEG · 03-26-2009, 09:32 PM

Is it official? They didn't say much about it, but I saw this reported about the Model S:
2012 Tesla Model S revealed! (updated)

Quote:

...the Model S’ battery can also be swapped out in just five minutes, making it compatible with Shai Agassi’s Better Place initiative...

DDB · 03-27-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEG

Is it official? They didn't say much about it, but I saw this reported about the Model S:
2012 Tesla Model S revealed! (updated)

Good catch TEG. You would think that would be something worth mentioning yesterday...would you not? If it's true, that's a bump to both platforms.

vfx · 03-27-2009, 08:09 AM

Elon did say this in his Model S introduction speech. Though it sounded like, Change the battery out faster that changing a gas tank".

Kinda weird but there were a lot of people talking around me...

SByer · 03-27-2009, 09:37 AM

Marginalize your compliment

If Tesla isn't going into battery swapping themselves, it's in their best interest to stay battery-swapping-station agnostic, if possible. Foster the competition. Your ICE car can fuel from any brand station, your BEV should be able to swap at any swap station.

Yes, there's the little minor detail of standards and things, but if the Tesla design is reasonable, first mover has a lot of power to set the standard.

TEG · 03-27-2009, 09:47 AM

The article I quoted said (or implied?) that it would be compatible. Is that wishful thinking from the reporter? I think there is a pattern of "leading" comments being made that allow reporters to jump to conclusions, sometimes wrong. I wish they would try harder to be "matter of fact", not "suggestive".

TEG · 03-27-2009, 03:58 PM

This article is much less certain:
"Tesla Model S Unveiled: A Great Concept, but Now the Wait Begins" Green Car Advisor

Quote:

...The flat battery pack can be designed into the car to be easily and quickly removed and swapped for a fully charged pack when it is depleted.

Musk said this doesn't mean that it will be designed that way, or that Tesla is going to evangelize for a national battery swap standard, but it does mean that if everything came together and battery swapping instead of plug-in recharging became the thing to do, the Tesla S would be able to do it...

So is it an advertised, standardized feature, or just a future wishlist item? Annoying these vague details reported different ways.

TEG · 03-28-2009, 09:32 AM

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Albern · 03-29-2009, 12:36 PM

Regardless of whether the Model S pack is swappable or not I think it's in Tesla's best interest carry this feature through to production. While I'm not a fan of a battery swapping infrastructure to make EVs "more" viable having the ability to quickly replace battery packs would be the best way to keep service costs down and opens many doors for future pack improvements.

From the information we've received so far this past week, if the goal is to charge $5,000 for a replacement pack Model S better have the ability to drop out those batteries ASAP.

Does anyone remember how long it takes to install the entire drivetrain plus batteries in a Roadster?

TEG · 03-29-2009, 02:46 PM

I think they said something like 8 hours for the Roadster.

Also, I wonder if that $5000 pack quote is correct.
I saw another quote <$500 per kWh. That would be about $20K for the base pack.

EVnut · 03-29-2009, 02:58 PM

Yeah, I think we can safely drop the idea of a $5000 pack. They will have to invent some magic mo-jo to pull that off. I think it is just a typo that has propagated. If we can have 100+ mile Li-ion packs for $5000, then the whole game changes.... like NOW.