Range anxiety or fretting your electric vehicle will run flat before you reach your destination is an open problem. If you have a gasoline auto, and you run out of fuel you can ask roadside assistance to help. However, an electric car with a flat battery needs a tow. French trailer renters EP Tender have an innovative way to eliminate range anxiety. They hire trailers crammed full with battery cells.
Could a Towable Spare Battery Eliminate Range Anxiety?
Website Car Scoops believe it’s a possibility. That’s because a consumer can purchase a cheaper city runabout for regular use. And then pay for extra range only when they need it which makes financial sense.
We can eliminate range anxiety without increasing upfront capital cost, says EP Tender CEO Jean-Baptiste Segard. Apparently, his company copied the name from small tender boats that service big ships. His business plan is simple: they will create trailer outlets on major routes, and rent battery trailers to drivers needing them. After that the customer can relax, while an attendant connects a trailer to their vehicle.
Could Extending Electric Vehicle Range Be That Simple?
EP Tender believes it could be just that. US$37 purchases 60kWh of portable battery power. That’s equivalent to the 239-mile range on a Chevrolet Bolt EV according to website Hybrid Cars. This should be sufficient to get you to the next battery trailer service point, or a commercial recharging station.
However, there are a few considerations that may deter consumers. Trailers add wind drag and affect dynamics. There’s also the question of reversing and parking. CEO Jean-Baptiste Segard says he has thought of that too. His battery trailers have a slippery design, and he has added a second pair of drop-down wheels to facilitate parking and reversing.
The company plans to have 4,150 trailers and 60,000 customers by 2024. By then it should be entering profit, and able eliminate range anxiety for more than a few drivers.
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Preview Image: Battery Tender During Road Test
Video Share Link: https://youtu.be/ooH3eivbkfk
