Over the last few years there has been tremendous progress towards making electric cars and hybrid vehicles more practical and commonplace here in the states. Unfortunately one issue that engineers are constantly struggling with is the long time it takes to recharge the batteries in these cars. Unlike filling up a traditional gas-guzzler at the pump, refueling electric or hybrid car can take many hours, making the prospect of travel far away from home a dicey proposition.
To remedy this situation Better Place, an Israel-based company aiming at developing more efficient electric vehicle charging methods, has developed a a prototype automated battery exchange statiot that will swap uncharged batteries for newly charged ones automatically. The swapping takes place at a bay station without the driver even having to get out of the car and takes approximately two minutes! This new prototype aims to ensure that drivers will be able to venture far and wide away from their home charging unit and just goes to show once again the many benefits that swapping has and how it can save everyone time, money and energy.
Here’s a look at the process of swapping out batteries by Better Place:
What do you think of Better Place’s battery swap stations? Could this be what brings electric cars to the masses? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.
(Photo Courtesy of Better Place)
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