All the trump cards for an electric car, but without the long payback period. Fisker will replace batteries in European cars before you have time to drink your coffee – VTM.cz

When you buy an electric car today, you’ll probably also get a smart card to use public chargers. While most owners can live with the charging times, the secret dream is to simply arrive somewhere, swap out a dead set for a new one, and be gone in minutes. In the past, Elon Musk talked about it, but he did not put the idea into practice, Nio can do it in China, Fisker is making great progress in California.

He is collaborating with manufacturer Ample on the replaceable battery technology for the Ocean SUV. The project has been running since 2021, when the basic idea was put to work with batteries like lego. That is, being able to replace shoebox-sized modules as building blocks. It’s a different approach from Chinese competitor Nio, which replaces the battery as one large unit.

The exchange would be done at special stations, as the vehicles have not yet been converted and tested for the owner to make the exchange. The process is more demanding than changing pencil batteries in toys for children, although the manufacturer relies on such a platform in the future. However, the operation should not take more than 10 minutes.

The novel is aimed at company fleets whose managers would like to switch to electric mobility, but do not want to risk economic or logistical compromises. The technology is especially suitable for companies whose employees have high turnover. Those interested should see the first cars at the beginning of 2024. The private sector is not expected in the initial phase.

The good news is that Europe is among the first selected destinations. Nio has made 20 million battery changes here and in China, and Fisker has already secured European deals for its vehicles. The delivery of the first batch of vehicles will start already this week.