• capital@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    I would love to see a car company create a vehicle platform with battery replacements central to the design of the car. Make larger packs out of smaller units so their larger models (or simply longer range models) simply use more of the smaller pack units. Recycle old packs back into making newer ones to reduce the need to mine more materials.

    Sure, charge me enough on the replacement to keep this cycle going. Buying a car you know will get battery (and therefore range) upgrades as time goes on is a no-brainer.

    Imagine the goodwill and free word-of-mouth advertising you would receive if you went the extra mile and open sourced all the software for the vehicle and allowed users to modify it if they wanted. Make the car not look like dogshit and I imagine you’d do well.

    • Bronzie@sh.itjust.works
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      6 months ago

      This already exists.

      Look up Nio. They already have fully automatic battery swapping stations for cars leasing the pack. You literally swap the whole pack instead of charging when it’s empty.

      Takes less than 10 minutes

      • capital@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        That is very interesting and their cars look appealing.

        I think in the US, a company may have a better time selling the whole car including battery and still offering quick replacement when it comes time to upgrade.

        I’m about to search more but do you happen to know if Nio is selling in the US?

        Edit: Dang… Not selling in the US yet. And with these new tariffs it’s not looking good.

        • Bronzie@sh.itjust.works
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          6 months ago

          Yeah I agree, would be nice if the sold packs were as easy to replace as the leased ones are, but I doubt it.

          I hope other makers come with a similar solution in the future. Being such a vital part and known to slowly degrade it should be easier to replace.

      • aesthelete@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Nio

        Ugh, looks like they designed their door handles just like Tesla did. Are EVs in general adopting that design standard? Cuz thanks I hate it.

        • Bronzie@sh.itjust.works
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          6 months ago

          Luckily no, not all do.

          We specifically chose a car with normal handles because ice/snow is a bitch with the motorized/flush ones

    • Yuri addict@ani.social
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      6 months ago

      nice concept and i think framework might actually do a protoype of this kind of car when they get the investors and the funds currently they still are a small company so i really hope that they become larger in this decade

      • Jarix@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Company called vinfast opened up next to tesla in my town. Never heard of them so i checked it out and they have a battery subscription option which was interesting to me, if its like propane tank exchange systems it could be interesting, since its the battery that seems to be the. Biggest concern for people having to replace down the line. Would make a lot of sense for heavy use situations(delivery, sales that travel a lot etc and burn through leases regularily)