DBT CEV, one of the largest electric vehicle charging infrastructure firms in Europe, and Matra, a manufacturer of Light Electric Vehicles are introducing the Bat’Lib system, a battery swapping station for e-bikes and e-scooters, at the Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) in Los Angeles.
The Bat’Lib station allows a user to exchange an empty battery for a full one in less than 10 seconds rather than waiting a few hours for the empty battery to recharge.
This intuitive and simple-to-use system eliminates one of the major barriers to electric vehicle use—recharging time—and is ideally suited for electric bike and scooter commercial fleet owners, tour companies, and vehicle sharing programs. Bat’Lib also enables the development of a variety of new business models for renting or leasing batteries and charging services separately from the vehicle purchase.
The Bat’Lib swapping station features ten battery charging ports and its small footprint minimizes space requirements. One port is always kept open to accept a new empty battery while the remaining ports can simultaneously charge nine batteries. The system can be limited to registered users through an RFID system. Upon arrival, the driver removes the empty battery from the vehicle, swipes the RFID card, and inserts the empty battery into the open port. Upon receiving the empty battery, the Bat’Lib immediately opens the door for one of the fully-charged batteries which is ready for immediate use.
The Matra-designed battery pack is built by Chicago-based AllCell Technologies and utilizes AllCell’s proprietary passive thermal management technology, which increases energy density, enhances safety, and dramatically extends battery cycle life.
The two-wheeler swapping station will support the proliferation of new urban mobility solutions in parallel to the current growing selection of electric and plug-in electric cars in the US. By tailoring new charging infrastructure to urban transportation needs, DBT and Matra have created a practical solution for users looking for an affordable and environmentally-friendly alternative for their transportation needs.
