IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transe/v171y2023ics1366554523000182.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimal pricing strategy for electric vehicle battery swapping: Pay-per-swap or subscription?

Author

Listed:
  • Hu, Xu
  • Yang, Zhaojun
  • Sun, Jun
  • Zhang, Yali

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) contribute to carbon emission reduction, but the limitations of existing charging technologies impose a bottleneck to their further diffusion. Addressing the root issues of long waiting time and range anxiety, battery swapping demonstrates great market potential. A swapping service provider may choose between two pricing strategies based on battery rental: pay-per-swap and subscription. This study establishes a game-theoretical model to portray a simplified EV replenishment market including one charging station, one swapping station, and one battery renter, and explores the optimal pricing strategy. To capture the influence of consumer preferences, the model considers high versus low opportunity cost of time. In either scenario, consumers choose between charging and swapping to maximize surplus utility. Equilibrium prices, demands, and profits under pay-per-swap and subscription strategies are obtained through backward induction. The results indicate that pricing strategy choice-making hinges on provider-side operating cost, battery depreciation and reserve size, as well as consumer-side time sensitivity and opportunity cost. Numerical and extended analyses suggest that the subscription strategy is conducive to initial market development, whereas the more consumer-friendly pay-per-swap strategy is preferred afterwards.

Suggested Citation

  • Hu, Xu & Yang, Zhaojun & Sun, Jun & Zhang, Yali, 2023. "Optimal pricing strategy for electric vehicle battery swapping: Pay-per-swap or subscription?," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:transe:v:171:y:2023:i:c:s1366554523000182
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2023.103030
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1366554523000182
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tre.2023.103030?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shen, Zuo-Jun Max & Feng, Bo & Mao, Chao & Ran, Lun, 2019. "Optimization models for electric vehicle service operations: A literature review," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 462-477.
    2. Yang, Jun & Guo, Fang & Zhang, Min, 2017. "Optimal planning of swapping/charging station network with customer satisfaction," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 174-197.
    3. Ho-Yin Mak & Ying Rong & Zuo-Jun Max Shen, 2013. "Infrastructure Planning for Electric Vehicles with Battery Swapping," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(7), pages 1557-1575, July.
    4. Noel, Lance & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2016. "Why Did Better Place Fail?: Range anxiety, interpretive flexibility, and electric vehicle promotion in Denmark and Israel," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 377-386.
    5. Arani, Hamed Vafa & Pourakbar, Morteza & Laan, Erwin van der & de Koster, René, 2023. "How to charge in servicizing: Per period or per use?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 304(3), pages 981-996.
    6. Budde Christensen, Thomas & Wells, Peter & Cipcigan, Liana, 2012. "Can innovative business models overcome resistance to electric vehicles? Better Place and battery electric cars in Denmark," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 498-505.
    7. Madina, Carlos & Zamora, Inmaculada & Zabala, Eduardo, 2016. "Methodology for assessing electric vehicle charging infrastructure business models," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 284-293.
    8. Liang, Yanni & Zhang, Xingping, 2018. "Battery swap pricing and charging strategy for electric taxis in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 561-577.
    9. Tan, Yang & Fukuda, Hiroatsu & Li, Zhang & Wang, Shuai & Gao, Weijun & Liu, Zhonghui, 2022. "Does the public support the construction of battery swapping station for battery electric vehicles? - Data from Hangzhou, China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    10. Chhabra, Meenal & Das, Sanmay & Sarne, David, 2014. "Expert-mediated sequential search," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 234(3), pages 861-873.
    11. Mahoor, Mohsen & Hosseini, Zohreh S. & Khodaei, Amin, 2019. "Least-cost operation of a battery swapping station with random customer requests," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 913-921.
    12. Sun, Lingling & Qiu, Jing & Han, Xiao & Yin, Xia & Dong, Zhaoyang, 2020. "Per-use-share rental strategy of distributed BESS in joint energy and frequency control ancillary services markets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    13. Liang, Yanni & Cai, Hua & Zou, Guilin, 2021. "Configuration and system operation for battery swapping stations in Beijing," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    14. Liao, Fanchao & Molin, Eric & Timmermans, Harry & van Wee, Bert, 2018. "The impact of business models on electric vehicle adoption: A latent transition analysis approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 531-546.
    15. Li, Yang & Yang, Zhen & Li, Guoqing & Mu, Yunfei & Zhao, Dongbo & Chen, Chen & Shen, Bo, 2018. "Optimal scheduling of isolated microgrid with an electric vehicle battery swapping station in multi-stakeholder scenarios: A bi-level programming approach via real-time pricing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 54-68.
    16. Yoo, Seung Ho & Choi, Thomas Y. & Sheu, Jiuh-Biing, 2021. "Electric vehicles and product–service platforms: Now and in future," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    17. Hof, Julian & Schneider, Michael & Goeke, Dominik, 2017. "Solving the battery swap station location-routing problem with capacitated electric vehicles using an AVNS algorithm for vehicle-routing problems with intermediate stops," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 102-112.
    18. Xu, Min & Meng, Qiang & Liu, Kai & Yamamoto, Toshiyuki, 2017. "Joint charging mode and location choice model for battery electric vehicle users," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 68-86.
    19. Will, Christian & Lehmann, Nico & Baumgartner, Nora & Feurer, Sven & Jochem, Patrick & Fichtner, Wolf, 2022. "Consumer understanding and evaluation of carbon-neutral electric vehicle charging services," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    20. Frank Schneider & Ulrich W. Thonemann & Diego Klabjan, 2018. "Optimization of Battery Charging and Purchasing at Electric Vehicle Battery Swap Stations," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(5), pages 1211-1234, October.
    21. Raeesi, Ramin & Zografos, Konstantinos G., 2022. "Coordinated routing of electric commercial vehicles with intra-route recharging and en-route battery swapping," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 301(1), pages 82-109.
    22. Michael K. Lim & Ho-Yin Mak & Ying Rong, 2015. "Toward Mass Adoption of Electric Vehicles: Impact of the Range and Resale Anxieties," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 17(1), pages 101-119, February.
    23. Cui, Dingsong & Wang, Zhenpo & Liu, Peng & Wang, Shuo & Dorrell, David G. & Li, Xiaohui & Zhan, Weipeng, 2023. "Operation optimization approaches of electric vehicle battery swapping and charging station: A literature review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    24. Sun, Bo & Sun, Xu & Tsang, Danny H.K. & Whitt, Ward, 2019. "Optimal battery purchasing and charging strategy at electric vehicle battery swap stations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 279(2), pages 524-539.
    25. W. Douglass Shaw, 1992. "Searching for the Opportunity Cost of an Individual's Time," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 68(1), pages 107-115.
    26. Zhang, Jie & Bai, Lihui & Jin, Tongdan, 2021. "Joint planning for battery swap and supercharging networks with priority service queues," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    27. Wang, Mengtong & Miao, Lixin & Zhang, Canrong, 2021. "A branch-and-price algorithm for a green location routing problem with multi-type charging infrastructure," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    28. Hu, Xu & Yang, Zhaojun & Sun, Jun & Zhang, Yali, 2021. "Sharing economy of electric vehicle private charge posts," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 258-275.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Dong, Zhongpeng & Fan, Zhi-Ping & Wang, Ningning, 2023. "An analysis of pricing strategy for bike-sharing services: The role of the inconvenience cost," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    2. Park, Junseok & Moon, Ilkyeong, 2023. "A facility location problem in a mixed duopoly on networks," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    3. Kaifu Yuan & Chao Li & Guangqiang Wu, 2023. "Study on Vehicle Supply Chain Operation Mode Selection Based on Battery Leasing and Battery Swapping Services," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-21, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cui, Dingsong & Wang, Zhenpo & Liu, Peng & Wang, Shuo & Dorrell, David G. & Li, Xiaohui & Zhan, Weipeng, 2023. "Operation optimization approaches of electric vehicle battery swapping and charging station: A literature review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    2. Zhan, Weipeng & Wang, Zhenpo & Zhang, Lei & Liu, Peng & Cui, Dingsong & Dorrell, David G., 2022. "A review of siting, sizing, optimal scheduling, and cost-benefit analysis for battery swapping stations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    3. Kumar, Rajeev Ranjan & Chakraborty, Abhishek & Mandal, Prasenjit, 2021. "Promoting electric vehicle adoption: Who should invest in charging infrastructure?," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    4. Shen, Zuo-Jun Max & Feng, Bo & Mao, Chao & Ran, Lun, 2019. "Optimization models for electric vehicle service operations: A literature review," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 462-477.
    5. Yongzhong Wu & Siyi Zhuge & Guoxin Han & Wei Xie, 2022. "Economics of Battery Swapping for Electric Vehicles—Simulation-Based Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-18, February.
    6. Yu Feng & Xiaochun Lu, 2021. "Construction Planning and Operation of Battery Swapping Stations for Electric Vehicles: A Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-19, December.
    7. Kaifu Yuan & Chao Li & Guangqiang Wu, 2023. "Study on Vehicle Supply Chain Operation Mode Selection Based on Battery Leasing and Battery Swapping Services," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-21, July.
    8. Liang, Yanni & Cai, Hua & Zou, Guilin, 2021. "Configuration and system operation for battery swapping stations in Beijing," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    9. Guohao Li & Tao Wang, 2022. "Long-Term Leases vs. One-Off Purchases: Game Analysis on Battery Swapping Mode Considering Cascade Utilization and Power Structure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-28, December.
    10. Yang, Jie & Liu, Wei & Ma, Kai & Yue, Zhiyuan & Zhu, Anhu & Guo, Shiliang, 2023. "An optimal battery allocation model for battery swapping station of electric vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    11. Wang, Yang & Lai, Kexing & Chen, Fengyun & Li, Zhengming & Hu, Chunhua, 2019. "Shadow price based co-ordination methods of microgrids and battery swapping stations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    12. Lingshu Zhong & Mingyang Pei, 2020. "Optimal Design for a Shared Swap Charging System Considering the Electric Vehicle Battery Charging Rate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-16, March.
    13. Zhang, Shuo & Li, Xinxin & Li, Yingzi & Zheng, Yidan & Liu, Jie, 2023. "A green-fitting dispatching model of station cluster for battery swapping under charging-discharging mode," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    14. Vallera, A.M. & Nunes, P.M. & Brito, M.C., 2021. "Why we need battery swapping technology," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    15. Huang, Youlin & Qian, Lixian, 2021. "Consumer adoption of electric vehicles in alternative business models," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    16. Long He & Sheng Liu & Zuo‐Jun Max Shen, 2022. "Smart urban transport and logistics: A business analytics perspective," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(10), pages 3771-3787, October.
    17. Masmoudi, Mohamed Amine & Hosny, Manar & Demir, Emrah & Genikomsakis, Konstantinos N. & Cheikhrouhou, Naoufel, 2018. "The dial-a-ride problem with electric vehicles and battery swapping stations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 392-420.
    18. Gu, Huaying & Liu, Zhixue & Qing, Qiankai, 2017. "Optimal electric vehicle production strategy under subsidy and battery recycling," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 579-589.
    19. Zhang, Mingze & Li, Weidong & Yu, Samson Shenglong & Wen, Kerui & Zhou, Chen & Shi, Peng, 2021. "A unified configurational optimization framework for battery swapping and charging stations considering electric vehicle uncertainty," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    20. Bai, Qingguo & Chen, Jiguang & Xu, Jianteng, 2023. "Energy conservation investment and supply chain structure under cap-and-trade regulation for a green product," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:transe:v:171:y:2023:i:c:s1366554523000182. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600244/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.