No hate, just a healthy dose of reality
Having worked with battery powered train engines that use swapable batteries I simply can see the range of problems. Even for a single type of vehicle there is battery aging, environmental effects (heat/cold), how you discharge(speed/load) it that can reduce available capacity faster than planned. And unlike a car that has fuel stations every few kilometers so "loosing" 50km from a tank and/or being able to top of quickly if the last user has forgotten to the net of battery stations and chargers is a lot less developed. Add in the needed storage space that must be a lot more accessible (battery maintenance) than a underground tank and the need to enhance the power distribution network in many places if electric vehicles go "mass market" since city grids are not build with that much reserve capacity on the final leg (1). And in many european countries that means MASSIV work since the cables are underground on that level
Add in more than one typ of car and it gets even more problematic, We either get the "Einheitswagen" with everybody driving the same(2) or ineffective space use or multiple batteries(3)/batterie types. Options 2 and 3 will increase complexity of the automatic change system OR require trained workers at the "fuel stations" to change the batterie(s). While even weak and small people can operate a modern automated fuel pump and finding the inlet works (most of the time(4))) exchanging a 50+ kg batterie (let alone a 500kg one) needs training and equipment(5)
The "fuel based" infrastructure is already there, developed over a century and had/have very low initial costs (6) while batterie infrastructure needs a HUGE startup investment from multiple companies (fuel station companie, power companies, cities maybe) to make the ecar useable. IMHO alternate liquid fuels like NGV/CNG using CH4, some of it produced in biogas units and/or through won through Methanisation using water/solar/wind/greenies on exercise bikes is a better alternative since the gas distribution network in many european countries is a lot better developed and the distribution uses "standdart fuel pumps and tank" systems (at least they look like it for the end user)
(1) Power companies have a good idea how much is needed in a given region and the growth is, at least in europe, planned so the "build to fit". In the past that has resulted in costly/lengthy overhauls, the last in germany in the late 70s/early 80s. That went mostly "unseen" since they combined that with the switch to underground cables in many cases
(2) That is okay for me if it is build like a Mercedes G or a simlar "blocky, high-seating, preferably 4WD" able to deal with german pothole collection sides (aka german roads below Autobahn or federal highway/Bundesstrasse). Strangly many people prefer sportier cars and do not mind the repair bill / fixup needed after finding a nice deep pothole...
(3) 2-n instead off 1 big - enhancing change time
(4) Recently saw a blonde filling a petrol burner with diesel....
(5) Having prevented in more than one case a booster cable used the wrong way despite the batteries being clearly marked I have serious doubts Joe Average can reliably swap them himself
(6) Refueling stations can be (and in 3rd world countries often are) a 200l barrel and a hand pump.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
