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This toaster-looking gadget boosts your phone’s battery in seconds (www.theverge.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

77 comments fedilink hide all child comments

This is awesome! For only $450 you can get a machine that can automatically swap battery packs placed on bulky $120 phone cases.

You don't need to plug a cable in your phone anymore, your over engineered machine can swap battery packs for you

I never imagined that I would live this long to see the future

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[–] nonentity 8 points 3 weeks ago (7 children)

I don’t see the use case for phones, and maybe there is for other personal electronics, but something similar for EVs should become the norm.

Basically a range extender when you need it, but it can be removed to save on weight when your trips are within the built-in battery’s range. Such a system could easily be extended to trailers, including their own static or removable batteries, and where the additional axles could be powered so they can contribute regenerative braking.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

Most EVs can now do 200 plus miles on a full charge so I really don't think range extenders are that necessary (especially when combined with level 3 fast charging). Plus where would you put it? The batteries on an EVs are stored on the undercarriage and they pretty much take up the entirety of the undercarriage, if there was extra space left over you would just put a permanent battery in there.

[–] nonentity 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The batteries are what make EVs heavier compared to ICE vehicles, and the majority of trips don’t call for anything close to their peak range.

Installing a fraction of the capacity as a static battery would reduce weight for shorter trips, also extending the typical range.

Removable batteries could be installed in a standard cavity in the undercarriage, or in the regular cargo space, it just needs an electrical connection to the rest of the system.

Fast charging is also a problem, as it disproportionately affects the performance and longevity of the batteries. Swapping batteries would permit charging them at a more leisurely and manageable rate.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

You have to account for all of the additional hardware that is required to enable swapping of batteries. Have you ever picked up an EV battery they are incredibly heavy and huge. I really can't see how you would do it without using the kind of engine lifting equipment that mechanics have.

I can't see it as practical or safe to allow general members of the public to use them. Even if you can pick them up, which you can just about do, you would seriously risk injuring your back.

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