Tesla is interested in building a machine that would make it easier to replace the battery in an electric vehicle.
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Tesla reveals it's working on tech to swap batteries — and it could help its entry into the truck space (TSLA)
A new patent application shows Tesla is interested in building a station that would allow it to swap batteries in and out of vehicles.
The electric automaker filed a patent application in May that shows how the machine could elevate a vehicle and then replace its battery pack with a new one. Electrek was the first to report on the patent's filing.
Tesla writes in the patent that at least one technician could monitor the lift, which could be installed in remote locations, such as a highway between cities. The machine would be able to swap the battery packs in less than 15 minutes.
The patent specifically outlines how the lift could be used for Tesla's Model S and Model X vehicles, but it could also prove useful for Tesla's truck project. Tesla will unveil an electric semitrailer in October, and such a machine could keep fleets on the road for longer without wasting time at the charger.
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Still, it's just a patent application, so the machine may never come to fruition. But it highlights how Tesla is considering ways to keep electric vehicles on the road without spending so much time at the Supercharger station.
A Tesla representative did not immediately return Business Insider's request for comment.
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