A Glimpse into the Sophistication of China's Electric Vehicle Battery Swap System

GUANGZHOU, KOMPAS.com – Adoption of electric vehicles in China does not solely rely on the construction of public electric vehicle charging stations (SPKLU) or home-based charging.

The Land of the Bamboo Curtain is also developing battery swap systems as a much faster and more efficient alternative for electric car users.

One provider of battery swap services in China is the company named Aulton New Energy Co Ltd. 

This company has built a network of battery swap stations integrated with various electric vehicle models that have been designed from the outset for this system.

“For 26 years, in Shanghai and Guangzhou, we have had policies and regulations,” said Steven Qu, General Manager of the International Business Division at Aulton, in Guangzhou, China, on Wednesday (22/4/2026).

The operational nature of taxis, which demands high mobility, makes efficiency the primary key. The battery swap system is considered far more advantageous than having to stop for a long time for conventional charging.

Qu explained that the battery replacement process is very brief, namely only 100 seconds from the car entering to exiting (car in car out).

The mechanism is also automatic, with the car entering a special area, being lifted by a machine, the old battery removed, and immediately replaced with a new fully charged battery.

“In China, the cost is 1.40 yuan per kWh,” said Qu.

Converted to Indonesian currency at the current exchange rate (around Rp 2,200 per 1 yuan), the charging cost per kWh is approximately Rp 3,080.

With an ecosystem that continues to mature, the battery swap system becomes an electric vehicle charging option in China, alongside fast-charging infrastructure to support eco-friendly mobility.