Mods: I couldn't come up with a better sub-forum for this, please move if you think it belongs elsewhere.
Theory is clear - Model S battery packs can be exchanged, and under the right circumstances it could be done relatively quickly.
However, I've consided the current reality with some friends and the practical difficulties make it seem unlikely to happen in the near future:
* Battery exchange on the Model S is only quick if there is the proper jig available. I believe there are 26 bolts (exact number?) to be removed and re-inserted, as well as the coolant hoses which need to be clamped, disconnected, reconnected and then do an air bleed.
* The above would require not only a car lift but also the correct hydraulic platform for lowering the battery and replacing it with the new one. Could be quite an investment in hardware, the costs for which need to be amortized, for something that doesn't happen frequently. Arguably Tesla service centers will have this anyway but there's not many of those as yet.
* Who carries the capital investment involved in the spare battery packs? It's probably fair to say this is the single most expensive component of the car - $20k cost? 30k, 40k? - What about insurance? Who is responsible?
* Combine the first 3 points above and we are probably looking at costs much higher than a rental car and maybe an hour to swap out the battery at each end of the trip. Questionable if anyone would really want to pay?
* I'm buying my Model S and I intend to look after it and charge appropriately, limited range mode charging etc. Now, I'm going on a long trip and want to swap batteries along the way. Well it's probably faster to just use a supercharger. But if I do swap batteries how do I know that the one I'm getting has been treated as carefully as the one I'm giving up - how old would it be? Etc.
* If I'm leasing the car, do I have a different point of view? Maybe, but I might still be concerned that I'm giving up a new battery for one that has degraded substantially?
* Supercharges make the whole idea of battery swaps redundant don't they?
Theory was fine, but I don't think battery swapping/rental is going to happen.
Discuss?
Theory is clear - Model S battery packs can be exchanged, and under the right circumstances it could be done relatively quickly.
However, I've consided the current reality with some friends and the practical difficulties make it seem unlikely to happen in the near future:
* Battery exchange on the Model S is only quick if there is the proper jig available. I believe there are 26 bolts (exact number?) to be removed and re-inserted, as well as the coolant hoses which need to be clamped, disconnected, reconnected and then do an air bleed.
* The above would require not only a car lift but also the correct hydraulic platform for lowering the battery and replacing it with the new one. Could be quite an investment in hardware, the costs for which need to be amortized, for something that doesn't happen frequently. Arguably Tesla service centers will have this anyway but there's not many of those as yet.
* Who carries the capital investment involved in the spare battery packs? It's probably fair to say this is the single most expensive component of the car - $20k cost? 30k, 40k? - What about insurance? Who is responsible?
* Combine the first 3 points above and we are probably looking at costs much higher than a rental car and maybe an hour to swap out the battery at each end of the trip. Questionable if anyone would really want to pay?
* I'm buying my Model S and I intend to look after it and charge appropriately, limited range mode charging etc. Now, I'm going on a long trip and want to swap batteries along the way. Well it's probably faster to just use a supercharger. But if I do swap batteries how do I know that the one I'm getting has been treated as carefully as the one I'm giving up - how old would it be? Etc.
* If I'm leasing the car, do I have a different point of view? Maybe, but I might still be concerned that I'm giving up a new battery for one that has degraded substantially?
* Supercharges make the whole idea of battery swaps redundant don't they?
Theory was fine, but I don't think battery swapping/rental is going to happen.
Discuss?