Structural batteries in electric vehicles

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Considering how some agricultural machinery and even small-displacement motorcycles rely on the engine as a stress member, maybe a battery pack could eventually serve for a comparable role too. But I'm not really holding my breath for it to happen anytime soon.

[Isaac Zachary]

Of course the difference is that the engine is still repairable. If you need new rings you can replace the rings. If you need new bearings, the bearings.

But a battery that is structurally that has a problem may need the whole thing replaced instead of just one part.

[Piotrsko]

The tesla skateboard isn't structural?

[freebeard]

In the same way as a fasces is structural. The conformal battery would be more like plywood.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

Of course the difference is that the engine is still repairable. If you need new rings you can replace the rings. If you need new bearings, the bearings.

Not a bad point, even though some folks have been repairing hybrid car batteries replacing a few damaged cells when the others are still OK.

[freebeard]

So here's an argument against structural batteries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-xWYScsvts

He addresses the issue at t=3:36.

The buzz-cronym is BAAS -- Batteries as a Service. And one big advantage is the batteries can be recharged slowly, extending their service life.

[Xist]

I mentioned this a while ago and everyone said they didn't want someone else's used batteries, but I would definitely feel comfortable with a battery the manufacturer says has at least 95% capacity.

[Piotrsko]

Originally Posted by Xist

I mentioned this a while ago and everyone said they didn't want someone else's used batteries, but I would definitely feel comfortable with a battery the manufacturer says has at least 95% capacity.

Depends on how close to maximum range you need to get. If you get 40 miles range and work is 37 miles round trip, it will get rather uncomfortable the last two miles coming home in most instances at 95%. Btdtmo

[freebeard]

For those who don't watch videos: They divide transportation into four levels; in the lowest, motor scooters, swappable batteries are well represented.

One big advantage is if you never own the batteries, the vehicle purchase price is reduced. Buy the scooter, rent the batteries.

[redpoint5]

Battery swapping will never be a thing for passenger vehicles, and ownership is better than renting from a cost perspective, unless someone has such minimal need for a vehicle, at which point they should have already been using Uber or renting a vehicle as needed.

I don't want a vehicle that has inconsistent performance due to the battery always changing. I don't want something abused by someone else (the nature of rental) to be installed in my vehicle.

Battery swapping solves no problems (because it's not faster than simply charging a battery). It only introduces a series of additional complex problems.