We're Charging Our Cars Wrong • Hacker News Board

Re: We're Charging Our Cars Wrong

#211

Post by Elixir6419 » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 10:23 AM UTC

SkyPuncher wrote: post #181

Elixir6419 wrote: post #10

It would be nice if instead of the fast charging problem the focus would be shifted to standardized battery packs, that can be field replaced. I don't really want to own 50-100kwh battery. I just want to use the charge in it and happy to pay for that.

I absolutely do not want that unless there are guarantees around the condition of the batteries. I can't imagine much worse than being on a road trip and quick swapping to a new battery that you discover, after driving away, has significantly degraded performance and range.

Why would you care if you can just go in and swap it again?

Re: We're Charging Our Cars Wrong

#212

Post by Elixir6419 » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 10:34 AM UTC

KurSix wrote: post #206

Elixir6419 wrote: post #10

It would be nice if instead of the fast charging problem the focus would be shifted to standardized battery packs, that can be field replaced. I don't really want to own 50-100kwh battery. I just want to use the charge in it and happy to pay for that.

Yet standardization across manufacturers is a huge hurdle... Like every automaker has different battery designs, voltages, and cooling systems optimized for their vehicles. Plus, swapping stations require massive infrastructure investments and a steady supply of charged packs, which means even more logistics and costs.

is that infra more expensive than preparing for the holiday events when half the nation decides to relocate to somewhere else and they need on the go charging? Not just the charging stations, but grid usage etc.

Re: We're Charging Our Cars Wrong

#213

Post by Elixir6419 » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 11:19 AM UTC

theshrike79 wrote: post #167

Elixir6419 wrote: post #10

It would be nice if instead of the fast charging problem the focus would be shifted to standardized battery packs, that can be field replaced. I don't really want to own 50-100kwh battery. I just want to use the charge in it and happy to pay for that.

Now think about a field you know. Maybe laptops or phones. Would a standardised battery block in laptops work? The same battery would work in a Frame.work, System76, MacBook air, MacBook pro, a Lenovo Thinkbook and whatever gaming monster there is from Asus. Sounds stupid, right? It's just as stupid for cars. And if laptops had battery swapping, would you swap your brand new battery, but empty, to a random one at a s…

I am not sure it is the same. First of all the limitation in usage for a phone/laptop reduces the utility, but for a transportation device it is way worse. On phone/laptop you can use the main functions while charging, but tethered. On a car the main function is the only thing you cant use.

There does not have to have a single battery standard, could be s/m/l, like coincell, aaa, aa etc.

> Would you trust the people and systems that the battery hasn't been tampered with and is in good working order?

Do you trust random utilities/charger manufacture?

> new battery, but empty, to a random one at a swapping station.

Would you care if it is within regulated thresholds and you can get another one any time you want?