Why The EV Industry Misjudged Battery Swapping — And How We Can Get It Right This Time - CleanTechnica

The article by Lixiong Wu examines why battery swapping in electric vehicles (EVs) has historically failed and how the industry might succeed if it addresses past mistakes. It highlights the case of Better Place, an Israeli startup that invested heavily in battery swap infrastructure but partnered with only one automaker, Renault, producing limited compatible vehicles. This lack of collaboration and standardization among automakers meant the infrastructure was underutilized and economically unsustainable. The article argues that battery swapping requires shared standards and cooperation among multiple OEMs to function like a utility accessible to all brands, similar to gas stations. The article also critiques Tesla’s 2015 battery swap pilot, which is often cited as evidence that consumers reject swapping. However, the pilot’s pricing model—charging $60–$80 per swap while offering free Supercharging—biased user behavior toward the free option, making the test inconclusive about true consumer preferences. Wu suggests that user choices are driven by incentives rather than inherent rejection of swapping. Finally,