Exchangeable batteries for electrical vehicles in urban transport

Battery powered electrical vehicles (BPEV) are already able to replace internal combustion powered vehicles (ICEV) in personal daily commuting. Statistical analysis of daily commuting in an urban environment shows that the daily distance is within the range of a single battery charge. However, recharging batteries requires appropriate infrastructure and time. These disadvantages of the BPEV are overcome by making the vehicle's battery an interchangeable module. Such battery will have its own energy meter and diagnostic module. The customer will obtain a battery through a leasing scheme, and will pay only for the energy effectively consumed from the battery. An exhausted battery is exchanged at a battery road station. In this article, technical requirements and leasing schemes for the battery modules are discussed. The idea is justified through some recent studies on the economy of battery powered vehicles. (a)