Lithium-ion batteries are extremely safe – they’re in all our mobile phones,
which we carry around daily in our pockets and handbags. The lithium-ion
swappable batteries used are industrial-grade, high-quality devices produced by
the world’s leading battery cell manufacturers. These batteries are only handled
and installed by trained technicians in secure locations to mitigate risks of
fires and damage.
In addition to constant monitoring by a range of sensors, swappable batteries
are also visually inspected almost daily, whereas embedded batteries are only
examined in the event of malfunction. Wire erosion, water damage, and faulty
connectors are more precarious in embedded batteries, since they’re rarely
visually inspected. This means that small issues often go undetected until they
become more significant, which can lead to batteries being scrapped long before
their time. Swappable batteries receive regular inspections and reconditioning,
so we can better monitor their health and performance and adapt operations
accordingly to prolong their useful life.
Batteries are protected from theft and vandalism by a secure electronic lock and
watertight aluminum cases. Swappable batteries are secured in an aluminum
baseboard with aluminum fasteners or integrated in the front stem of the
scooter. The latching mechanisms are similar to a car trunk and are extremely
durable. Our tests have confirmed this: the battery is able to withstand 380 kg
of horizontal pull force and 700 kg of vertical pull force before the battery
storage handle breaks off.
Swappable batteries also have potential for multimodal applications, including
usage in e-bikes. They can be used interchangeably across modes and models,
ensuring that each battery achieves its maximum useful life before
refurbishment, second-life applications or eventual recycling.
Embedded batteries are more dangerous to recycle. Issues usually arise when
operators send full vehicles to inexperienced scrappers or recyclers. Swappable
batteries are easily separated from the scooter, which ensures optimal lifecycle
management of both battery and scooter, independent of one another. We ensure
batteries are recycled responsibly. We work with top recycling partners, such as
Fortum, LiCycle, Nunam and Northvolt, Screlec and Nowos to enable up to 90%
material recovery that can then be used in the production of new batteries,
contributing to a circular supply chain.
We also employ sophisticated battery management systems, which vary among
operators, such as AI to improve battery lifespan and find second-life
applications. This allows operators to not only monitor safety, but also
maximize the scooter’s useful life through proper charging, temperature control,
and handling. Thanks to this data, we can find second lives for batteries, such
as energy storage for off-grid communities.