3-minute battery swaps are facing off against 5-minute charge times for China's EV drivers

In China, three-minute battery swaps are facing off against five-minute charge times for EV drivers.

Charging an EV is often the biggest concern for EV drivers, with gearheads often having to plan journey times around when and where they can boost their battery back to full power again.

However, in China, a new solution may have just come to light in the form of three-minute battery swaps

Thanks to clever technology, your car could be ready to go in less time than a microwave meal takes to cook, but it may rival five-minute charge times along the way.

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It could take three minutes for battery swaps to happen in China versus longer charge times

In China, EVs are at the forefront of the country’s car industry, thanks to rapidly advancing technology.

The world is slowly making the switch from gas-powered vehicles to make way for greener EVs.

Now in China, EV drivers’ lives could be about to be made a whole lot easier.

Charging is often the most hindering aspect of owning an electric vehicle, but this battery swap solution could face off against charging times.

But, is this tech likely to become a reality?

Well, in China, CATL is reportedly looking at expanding its battery swapping station network.

The giant battery company explained that it would build ‘1,000 Choco-Swap stations and will expand into Hong Kong and Macau’ with a mid-term plan to build 10,000 stations with partners.

“As the battery swap ecosystem expands, and through the joint efforts of the whole society, there will be 30,000 Choco-Swap stations in the future,” stated the company further.

But fast-charging stations could require lots of electrical components to be upgraded before being rolled out.

You never know, the two could work in harmony, as experts have explained to the Financial Times that the two methods will not ‘cannibalize each other’.

Chinese company NIO has a clever battery swapping solution, which takes a mere three minutes and describes it as ‘recharging beyond refuelling’.

“A 3-minute swap for a fully charged battery without getting off the car. A health check on the battery and electric drive system during every swap, ensuring the optimal status of the battery and vehicle,” detailed NIO itself.

The solution could be handy as many people in China do not have the means to personally charge an EV at home.

However, there are plans in place to accommodate charging, with the National Development and Reform Commission announcing plans to install ultra-fast EV charging stations by 2027.

Shanghai, on the other hand, has offered to subsidize swapping stations.

It seems it could well be all systems go, with both methods of charging providing ample opportunity to Chinese EV drivers.

EVs are becoming the favored car for gearheads to drive

It’s no secret that there has been a recent shift from gas-powered vehicles to EVs, thanks to the cars costing less and supposedly being better for the world around us.

For example, demand is so high that car manufacturer Hyundai is set to enter the affordable electric hatchback market thanks to its new addition of the Ioniq 2.

However, a new study in California has found that EVs could potentially be doing more harm than good, as small particles are said to be found at charging stations, which may be harmful to humans.

What do you think? Could these battery swaps really rival super-fast charging times?

We guess there’s only one way to find out.

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