This new unveil by Ola Electric, under the leadership of Bhavish Aggarwal does not come as a big surprise but it has definitely generated a lot of buzz in the EV world, by giving a sneak peek into a sizzling new EV featuring a new swappable battery system.
This announcement has unlocked a lot of excitement and this is because it is the next big step to achieving Ola Electric’s dream which is to overhaul the way people move around towns in India.
Established specifically for Electric vehicles Ola Electric Mobility has already made its mark in the Indian market with its innovative electric scooters. That said, with the help of this new technology, the company is now set to evolve EV to the ‘next level’.
An economical battery swap is a game changer in the EV business since a driver can pull into a station, evacuate the exhausted battery, and get back to a fully charged battery at an agreed price, unlike recharging which takes a lot of time.
This could go a long way in removing one of the most compelling barriers users of electric vehicles face, and could make electric cars more practical and viable. Ola Electric rarely misses an opportunity to take health risks as it remains committed to innovation that has only raised the bar for prospering in the EV sector in India.
Ola Electric’s Swappable Battery Concept
In February, Ola Electric applied for a design patent specifically for a replacement battery for its electric vehicles. The ola electric swappable battery patent documents reveal the idea of a cylindrical design with a handle on top to make the batteries easy to unload and replace.
This swappable battery scooter design could revolutionize the power and charging possibilities of the EVs which makes this a big boost for swappable battery India. As of now, Ola Electric’s electric vehicles or its flagship electric scooter use a built-in battery system in which the battery is an inherent part of the EV.
However, with this new electric scooter swappable battery technology, Ola Electric wants to go one step further and give consumers the opportunity to replace the used battery and get a charged one right away and not have to wait several hours.
The potential benefit associated with this innovation cannot be underestimated. As we have observed, the charging infrastructure in cities can be scarce or could take time for passengers to find, access, and wait for charging, so Battery as a Service by Ola Electric Mobility may be a much better and quicker solution for riders.
The company is likely to focus on the last-mile mobility segment where operational uses such as delivery businesses require fast frequencies and availability of vehicles for longer durations.
What Makes This Swappable Battery Technology Stand Out?
From the new teaser images of the new swappable battery model of Ola Electric, one gets a peak into the Electric Vehicle designs of the future. These images highlight a slightly more functional design that has the most recognizable features such as the crash guard emerging from the front apron and the removable cargo bed set behind the seat.
Thus, it appears that in this model Ola Electric is focusing on commercial applications, presumably trying to enter the quickly emerging last-mile delivery market.
The new swappable battery electric vehicle appears to be functionally and purposefully built with a load-carrying bed at the back of the rider’s seat. It could therefore best suit the services of small businesses, and delivery businesses that require a reliable green vehicle to carry goods within cities.
Moreover, the detachable battery is located under the saddle, and depending on the model, it can take up to two replaceable batteries to allow scooter riders to go further by changing batteries en route.
Another beautiful thing about the swappable battery India concept is that a substantial reduction in charging time could be possible. To its clients and prospects in India, now emerging as a rapidly growing EV market, particularly in its major cities, ABB is supplying compact and efficient charging solutions.
Through Ola battery swapping, users just have to present at a battery swapping station location, exchange the battery that has been depleted with a full one, and proceed with the journey without any concern about having to wait for the time that the battery is being charged.
What’s Next for Ola Electric and Its Swappable Battery EV?
Earlier I mentioned that Ola Electric is gearing up to launch this new ola electric swappable battery scooter in the next week. As to the details, the information is still limited, but this should be considered as a significant step forward towards a new generation of electric mobility in India with the active participation of the company.
The new scooter may complement the other electric scooter models that the company currently sells but with an emphasis on utility and business. The teaser images suggest a design that is utilitarian, with many elements aimed at the requirements of deliveries and SMBs.
I think with the introduction of swappable battery technology it is making itself capable of responding to the last-mile mobility solutions market.
The Advantages of Ola’s Swappable Battery Technology
- Faster Charging: This means that instead of charging the battery which takes several hours, many hours, minutes, or seconds, a user will pick the fully charged battery from the Ola Electric battery swapping stations.
- Cost-Effective: As compared to buying a new battery or waiting for plenty of charging, the battery swap is much cheaper.
- Wider Reach: The electric scooter swappable battery system could extend the range of scooters that Ola Electric plans to deploy and improve their usage in regions with inadequate charging facilities.
- Environmentally Friendly: Refundable batteries for electric vehicles make even more sense than disposable batteries due to battery reuse which would eliminate e-waste, in line with the environmental missions of the company.
- Convenience for Commercial Users: Businesses and delivery services will be able to fix their vehicles to carry out their duties without experiencing a long break to charge their electric cars.
Conclusion
Ola Electric recently released a teaser about their new easily swappable battery electric vehicle opening a new chapter for EVs in India.
With this approach, Ola Electric is in a good position to take the lead in the expanding market for scooters with swappable batteries so as to make life easier for its clients. For the everyday commuter or the commercial commuter, this technology could be a game changer in thinking about electric mobility in India.
Refuting the rumors that the company is currently not working on any new project, Ola is on the brink of launching a new series of scooters complete with battery-swapping capabilities just around the corner, making the future of EVs bright.
First, thanks to the battery-swapping business model implemented by Ola through its battery-swapping stations and the increasing importance of last-mile mobility, Ola Electric is surely preparing for a major leap in EV businesses.
To know more about it, you can check out the details in the official announcement from Ola Electric here. Also, to know more on what is new and upcoming in the market and the industry of electric vehicles click here.
Disclaimer: All the data for this article has been sourced and analyzed using information up to date and teasers from Ola Electric. Information about the new swappable battery electric vehicle model and the characteristics specified above are tentative, and the final characteristics will be published after the official presentation of the new model.
FAQs
1. What does it mean to have a swappable battery for an electric scooter?
A swappable battery is a battery that is easily disassembled from an electric vehicle and replaced with one that has been fully charged. This means there is a hasty swap and there are no long charge durations.
2. Why is Ola Electric planning to introduce swappable batteries?
Ola Electric is now launching the concept of swappable batteries to provide faster and more convenient charging solutions, particularly for business customers and those within urban centers where charging stations may be available in a limited way.
3. What is the battery-swapping model that Ola is following?
The way of operating battery swapping of Ola Electric is that you can get into a swapping station where you exchange your battery completely discharged with a fully charged battery. It only takes a few minutes and therefore can be recommended for anyone who needs their work done quickly.
4. What kind of battery system will the new Ola scooter have – a fixed battery pack, or beam and replace?
The originality of the new Ola Electric scooter is the possibility of exchanging the battery, which will be an advantage for the users primarily in terms of business.
5. What is good about a swappable battery electric vehicle?
Thus, the main advantage of employing the main battery electric vehicle that can be swapped is the opportunity for clients to charge it more quickly while using energy in a less costly way and providing more convenience for the clients, especially in the commercial segment.
