China is pioneering a fast battery-swap system for electric vehicles that allows drivers to exchange a depleted battery for a fully charged one in approximately three minutes — roughly the same time it takes to fill a conventional petrol tank. The technology, already available to some EV owners across the country, offers an alternative to traditional charging stations, which can require significantly longer wait times. The development marks a notable shift in how range anxiety — a key barrier to EV adoption — could be addressed at scale.