, Columnist
Going Electric Doesn’t Have To Be So Complicated
India battery swapping stations could prove to be a model for other emerging markets struggling to meet their green promises.
Passengers travel in an e-rickshaw in New Delhi.
Photographer: Jonas Gratzer/LightRocket via GettyThis article is for subscribers only.
It may not have enough electric vehicles, powerpacks or the capital, but India has found a way towards mass electrification: swap batteries.
The solution, where empty batteries can be exchanged for charged-up ones, is still in nascent stages in China, the world’s largest EV market, where it is anchored in strong government policy. Elsewhere, it hasn’t quite taken off. But for India, it could help leap-frog the nation’s bid to reduce transport emissions and boost its electric footprint.