Can we expect big changes in battery tech soon?

@Peggy
Car batteries aren’t like phone or tool batteries you can just swap. The battery is often a structural part of the car. Swapping it involves a lot more than just lifting the chassis.

@Peggy
Is this post for real? It sounds like trolling.

Maria said:
@Peggy
Is this post for real? It sounds like trolling.

I’m just asking a serious question. Why the hostility? I’m buying an EV and wanted to know.

@Peggy
Are you really planning to swap out your EV battery every time there’s an improvement? If the car you’re buying now meets your needs, then why worry?

diallo said:
@Peggy
Are you really planning to swap out your EV battery every time there’s an improvement? If the car you’re buying now meets your needs, then why worry?

Batteries have changed a lot, just like AA batteries over the years. But you don’t swap them out for every new development.

@Gabriel
Alkaline batteries are still the go-to. Even with new tech, you don’t always see massive improvements in performance.

diallo said:
@Peggy
Are you really planning to swap out your EV battery every time there’s an improvement? If the car you’re buying now meets your needs, then why worry?

I just thought the idea of a battery that could give 1000 km of range would be pretty cool.

@Peggy
That’s not happening anytime soon, definitely not in the next four years.

@Peggy
Sounds like you’re just afraid of missing out.

@Peggy
If charging stations keep getting better and faster, you won’t even need a battery with 1000km range.

If you’re really worried about missing out on new tech, maybe consider leasing the car for a couple of years. Battery tech improves gradually, but current models will work just fine for most people.

It’s not as simple as swapping out the battery like you might think. Car batteries are often custom-made for each model, and the car’s systems are designed around that specific battery. Swapping in a different battery could cause issues with voltage, capacity, and even handling. Right now, manufacturers are focused on producing EVs at scale, not on making them modular for easy battery upgrades.

@sorphia
Thanks, this really helps clarify things!

Peggy said:
@sorphia
Thanks, this really helps clarify things!

Exactly! The car’s cooling and power systems are designed specifically for the battery it comes with. You can’t just drop in a different battery without making other adjustments.

Any major battery breakthroughs will take 10 to 15 years to prove their durability and performance. In the meantime, current battery tech is already good enough for most people, and it lasts a long time. If you’re concerned, consider leasing your EV instead.

@jessicah
They can use accelerated testing, which doesn’t take as long as 10-15 years. But getting new battery tech into mass production can take a while.

izael said:
@jessicah
They can use accelerated testing, which doesn’t take as long as 10-15 years. But getting new battery tech into mass production can take a while.

How do they test for battery longevity?

@jessicah
They continuously charge and discharge the batteries in different conditions and monitor how they perform. It helps them predict battery life and set limits for charging and discharging.

Battery tech will keep improving over the next 3-5 years, but not in a way that would make your new EV obsolete. And no, you can’t just swap the battery. Even if the car model stayed the same, the new battery would likely require significant changes to the car’s systems.

@martin
You’d probably be better off trading in your old car and buying the new model rather than trying to swap the battery.