It takes longer to get a fresh set of batteries than to fill a tank of gas

Jun 21, 2013 19:41 GMT  ·  By

One of the big problems with electric cars is the battery. Tesla has done a great job at packing a huge, or rather, dense battery into the Model S guaranteeing a decent autonomy, for an electric car.

But even if the range is decent, the charge time is not. Even with the optional fast charger, it takes hours to recharge an expensed battery.

If you're planning a long trip, or need to get to some place at that very moment, you're out of luck. But Tesla is hoping to fix that with a new battery swap technology.

The feature was built into the Model S from the beginning, but Tesla has only now perfected the actual swapper which will be a part of its Supercharger Station network.

For a small feel, cheaper than a full tank of gas, Tesla owners can choose to have the battery in their car replaced by one with a full charge from the station. The entire process takes less than it takes to fill a tank of gas, as the video shows.

Owners will have to return the battery pack on their way back, but they can keep it if they want to be paying for the price difference between their old battery and the new one.

Of course, Tesla still has to build the battery pack swappers at its stations, of which there aren't nearly enough as it is. But the technology does show that the electric car isn't just the "future," it's fast becoming the present.