An energy storage start-up, Verd2GO, based in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, has developed swappable lithium ion batteries for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, reports AutoblogGreen. The concept uses a rack of lithium ion batteries which can be individually swapped with fully charged battery units at the charging stations. Besides using this technology in cars, the batteries can be used to charge mobile phones and are adaptable to be charged inside homes using solar or grid electric supply. The project has started crowdsourcing through Indiegogo and has a goal to raise USD100,000 within the next six weeks.
Significance: The battery swapping idea was developed by Better Place. Established in 2007, the company developed a "quick drop" system that helped to replace an electric car's battery with a new one in about the same time it takes to refill a regular car with fuel. The aim was to eliminate the primary obstacle to the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) – the several hours it takes to recharge a flat battery. The project involved an investment of over USD850 million from 2007 through 2011, and Better Place had sold 900 EVs powered with the system in Israel and 400 in Denmark in the first two years. However, lack of commercial success of the company's battery-switching system for electric cars that it had developed in a partnership with French automaker Renault led Better Place to file for liquidation with the Lod District Court in Israel in 2013. In 2013, Tesla also came up with a battery swap technology for the Model S. However, the uptake of the technology has remained small, as consumers appear to prefer the option of free electric charging via superchargers to the costly battery swap technology. It remains to be seen whether Verd2GOss flexible system, which can be integrated into any car as well as be connected to the grid, can garner positive returns and cement a foothold in the market.
