Swedish Start-up Announces Plans for Electric Charging Stations

Powerswap AB, a start-up based in Sweden has announced plans for a new solution for charging electric vehicles.

Rather than charge internal batteries, as is the case with existing electric vehicles, Powerswap AB plans is developing technology to use an automated system to completely swap out used batteries for fully charged units. The company intends to leverage the existing infrastructure in place to fuel gasoline-powered cars to simplify the expansion of battery-swapping systems.

“It is better if we do not have to establish a completely new infrastructure just because we want to use EVs instead of fossil fuel cars,” said Powerswap founder Sten Corfitsen. “By installing robotic swap units at petrol stations and parking lots, we will gain a cost-efficient solution for the transition to a dominant electric transport sector.”

The company has indicated that they have already received interest in the project from the largest taxi company in Sweden.

Powerswap AB is a spin-off from Fuelmatics AB, the originator of completely automatic refuelling with liquid fuels. The Powerswap battery swap system offers cord-free “refuelling” of EVs in three minutes. Powerswap is supported by the Swedish Energy Agency, Energi-myndigheten, with the goal of enabling a more efficient infrastructure for electric vehicles. The company collaborates with Chinese battery manufacturers and OEMs.

Toyo Tire announced the development of catalysts that convert carbon dioxide into butadiene in high yield in collaboration with the University of Toyama. The company said it and the university successfully synthesized butadiene rubber, a key raw materials for tires, using CO2.

The composition ratios of raw materials used for automobile tires varies by category, and petroleum-derived synthetic rubbers including butadiene units (styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and butadiene rubber (BR)) account for approximately 30% of raw material overall. This being the case, the tire industry has been activating the research of synthesis of butadiene rubber derived from naturally alternative materials (resources) other than petroleum for practical application.