Battery Swapping May Meet Range and Reliability Needs for Certain EVs (Download)
In China, swappable EV batteries have moved from concept to cornerstone — especially for commercial fleets. Companies like NIO and CATL have built nationwide networks where taxis, delivery vans, and ride-hailing vehicles can swap batteries in minutes, slashing downtime and boosting productivity. It’s a system tailor-made for high-utilization fleets.
Meanwhile, the U.S. fleet sector is playing catch-up. With fewer swap-ready vehicles and almost no nationwide infrastructure, American fleets still rely on plug-in charging, which ties up vehicles—and time. As federal EV subsidies shrink, U.S. operators face mounting pressure to maximize ROI. Fast, modular battery swaps could be the answer. For fleets that can’t afford to wait hours to charge, China’s model is looking less exotic and more essential.