This is conditioned by China's famous development plans, so it is not surprising that there is a large number of manufacturers of various types of electric vehicles, as well as an increase in electric cars on China's roads.
However, for the introduction of new technology, it is necessary to build the supporting infrastructure and services for battery charging.
Back in 2019, the law stipulated that in the next 2 years, all newly registered or replaced taxis in Beijing must be fully electric vehicles.
Following this news, we want to show you how it is done in China, how taxis work and how their batteries are charged, and what chargers for private vehicles look like.
See what an average place to recharge your batteries looks like.
In this particular place there are 11 fast chargers for 22 vehicles that can be charged simultaneously.
Electric vehicle battery charging station in China
Within a radius of about 1 km from this place, there are 2 other places of similar size for recharging electric car batteries!
Apart from these public charging points, almost every building has its own chargers, some more, some less.
Charging prices vary depending on what time of day you charge your vehicle and where you charge it and whose chargers you use. In Josip's case, it is cheapest to charge at night, when a 100% full battery costs you about $7-8 (for approximately 450km of driving). However, it is not much more expensive during the day either.
Development of electric vehicles through taxi associations
China entered the project of developing and introducing electric cars into general use through the taxi association.City by city each passed laws so that newly registered or replaced taxis must be all-electric vehicles.
Today we have come to the point where Hainan (the province where Mr. Josip lives) will be the first province to ban the sale of fossil fuel vehicles by 2030.
Therefore, not only taxis, but all vehicles must satisfy zero emission of harmful gases!
The solution mainly used by taxi associations today is battery swapping stations, which reduces the dependence on high voltage fast charging stations.
Taxi associations generally use the same vehicle manufacturer that has its own battery swapping technology.
This technology allows drivers to replace their car's battery in record time, at low cost and with maximum convenience.
Here are a few reasons why we think this technology could play a big role in the future of electric vehicles, especially if there is standardization of technologies.
Charging Time
The battery replacement process is incredibly fast – these stations complete the swap in about one minute, making it ideal for taxis where time is money. Compared to fast charging, which takes up to 30 minutes to reach 80% battery capacity, the advantage is clear.
Drive-Through Service – Replacement Without Exiting the Vehicle
These stations feature a drive-through design with a front entrance and rear exit, similar to a car wash. Drivers simply drive onto the platform, and the battery is replaced without them having to leave their vehicle.
Simplified Payment
Payment is streamlined, as with most services in China. Drivers don’t even need to take out their phones – the car’s license plate is scanned upon entry, and the corresponding fee is automatically deducted from their account.
Affordable Pricing
The service is highly popular, largely due to its affordability. On average, a battery replacement costs around 55 yuan (approximately 7 euros), providing a full charge and a range of about 400 kilometers.
Advanced Battery Management
The primary function of these stations is to replace depleted batteries with fully charged ones. Additionally, they manage battery charging, swapping, and the removal of faulty batteries when necessary. All this data is stored in the cloud and made accessible to users via a dedicated app.
Smart App Integration
In the electric vehicle industry, a seamless app experience is essential. This app not only guides users to nearby stations but also provides real-time information on available batteries and estimated wait times. This ensures that the nearest station isn’t always the best choice, helping users make informed decisions.
Watch our video to see how battery replacement looks like on a taxi in China.
The battery swap process for electric taxis.
As you can see in the video, the car replaced the battery and now has a 100% full battery in 93sec. which is faster than the classic refueling from empty to full tank at an average station.
If you are a taxi association and you want to switch to new technology, to make your vehicles electric contact us.
We will help you to find a suitable station for replacing and charging batteries.
These stations can be combined with solar panels, so your savings would be even greater!
And that's not all, today in China there are also electric cargo vehicles that have the same quick battery replacement.
The principle is a little different since the batteries weigh 2-3t and are removed with a crane from above, but the replacement speed is still very high, about 5 minutes.