At a battery exchange
station a discharged battery is removed and a charged battery is inserted into an
electric vehicle. The battery exchange
station has various mechanisms to make this exchange. In some embodiments, the batteries are stored in a warehouse, where they are given an appropriate amount of charge. The charged batteries are moved from the warehouse by an automated robotic mechanism. The automated robotic
system provides the charged battery to a battery exchange
system which inserts the charged battery into the vehicle after it removes the discharged battery from the vehicle. The
insertion and removal of the battery is done vertically, i.e., into and out of the bottom of the vehicle. The battery exchange
system is located in a service bay under the vehicle. A sliding door system creates an opening above the service bay. The opening is of
variable size depending on the size of the vehicle.