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Imagine putting the batteries in shipping containers and just using the existing cranes to swap them around

Edit: Probably wouldn't happen though. I feel like if swapping was gonna work, it would be done in smaller vehicles already




Your first point is a good one, these ships base at locations specifically designed for transferring heavy loads. Adding battery swapping to the to-do list at container ports does not seem unreasonable at all.

To your second point, let it always be remembered that the first electric busses, from the early 20th century, used a battery swap system. It can be done, especially on industrial vehicles. Personally I don’t understand why it isn’t being done today for electrified bus networks.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1...


How do you refuel at sea or even anchored near port? The recent West Coast US delays would be an example of a situation of that, along with the Suez Canal delay.

How do batteries disperse/degrade or get recovered at sea when the inevitable cargo loss or hull loss occurs?

Possibly the answer to both of those is systemic - but it is at least that.


I don't think at-sea refuelling is common for commercial ships, but if needed presumably a electric equivalent of an oiler could be made, with a electric cable instead of a hose used to transfer power from one ship to the other.

For the other issue... probably no perfect solution.


Its not really analogous though: smaller vehicles are dominated by aerodynamic concerns, and otherwise a cargo profile that's totally different (people).

Whereas ships are dominated by the cargo profile: shipping containers.



How about solar panels on the crates and they connect to each other conductively. Top-most crates are the ones exposed to the sun.




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