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Given that Tesla tried battery swaps and canned it, and that venture funded startups already burned a billion dollars trying it and failing, I don't think many companies are eager to repeat the experiment.

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China is doing it. The key thing is you need more than just a billion dollars, you need a dozen times that (or more, but the CCP doesn't need to worry about money) and credible political commitment that customers won't be left stuck with useless cars down the road.

China is not worried about safety and reliability in the same way Western producers are. They don't have the same liability laws.

Tesla and the major automakers can't risk their name and reputation on a crap product.

> Tesla [...] can't risk their name and reputation on a crap product.

Full Self Driving has entered the chat...

NIO is doing some crazy crap, dunno how they pay for it.

They even have literal charging vans you can just order to come anywhere you want. You use an app to request one, they drive to your location and charge your car.

Plus they have the manned battery swap stations everyone has seen a video of.

China is throwing money at the problem, as simple as that. They're all too aware that their pollution issues need to be solved, and if it kickstarts an industry that can undercut Western competition, all the better..

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