I like the idea of swappable batteries. I don't like the idea of taking someone else's battery in whatever condition it's in vs only using my own supply of swappable batteries.
Except for the part where batteries are chemical processes that can deteriorate when poorly maintained. Just look at how people abuse rental cars (e.g. Clarkson’s “Fastest car in the world”).
Then there’s the added issue that if you get a dud gas tank, the worst thing that happens is that it leaks and you bring it back after letting it empty overnight in the garden. In this case, a battery catching fire would be near to guaranteed death for anyone on the plane.
I don’t even lend 18650 cells to friends for this exact reason, let alone strangers.
I admit to not knowing a lot about battery tech, but how exactly does a driver of a vehicle abuse the battery? Isn't that a function of the vehicle design rather than behavior by the driver?
