A mechanic went viral asking why EVs charge like phones instead of swapping batteries and the logic is hard to argue with
Published on May 25, 2026 at 9:52 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on May 25, 2026 at 9:52 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Ben Thompson
A mechanic went viral after questioning why EVs don’t have swappable batteries, but instead charge like a phone.
While talking on the Talkin’ Shop Podcast, the mechanic and the two hosts were discussing cars and electric cars, and the recharging of EVs.
His logic stems from the need to recharge batteries and the fact that it takes some time for a battery to recharge, even if it isn’t completely drained of energy.
While it having swappable batteries may sound wild initially, there is some logic to the thinking.
Why EVs should have replaceable batteries in them
The two hosts, Louis and Aaron, were talking to content creator and mechanic Fitter Matt.
Fitter Matt is a mechanic and steam engine enthusiast, and has some strong opinions on electric cars.
In his opinion, EVs should have batteries that you can swap at a regular gas station.
He likened this to the battery on an electric drill, which you swap out and recharge.
“My DeWalt drill, I don’t charge up the drill, I charge up the battery,” he said.
“Say every battery has to have this interface and be this size.”
“You pull into the station, they charge a rack of batteries, you go and buy your coffee, and by the time you’re back out, they’ve swapped your battery for 50 [dollars].”
In short, Matt believed batteries should be the same size and spec, and easily be swappable.
Is this being done elsewhere in the world?
Chinese EV manufacturer NIO has actually championed this very strategy.
The company developed a swappable battery system for its EVs.
Owners can drive in, swap an empty battery, and drive off with a new one in under three minutes.
However, in Europe, they only cost a small service fee of around €10, or $11.
That is cheaper than the proposed idea by Matt, which charges what is basically a full tank of gasoline.
However, there is some logic to mass charging batteries, and allowing people to swap them and drive off in just a few minutes.
Drivers would spend far less time waiting around, as many do with current electric cars.
It may even help those who need a recharge after running empty far from home, such as this Tesla owner.
Perhaps this could be the answer to all our recharging worries.
NIO history
2014: Founded by William Li in Shanghai under the original name NextEV
2016: Rebranded to NIO and unveiled the EP9 electric supercar, which set multiple global track records
2017: Launched the ES8, the company’s first mass-produced electric luxury SUV
2018: Successfully completed its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange
2021: Began international expansion by entering the European EV market, starting with Norway
2023: Secured a $2.2 billion strategic investment from Abu Dhabi-backed CYVN Holdings to bolster its balance sheet
2024: Introduced ONVO, a new mass-market sub-brand aimed at competing directly with the Tesla Model Y
Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
