Two quotations that both say "12 compartments, IP54" may differ by a noticeable margin in total price. The difference is not about whether it is expensive, but about what is actually inside those same few words.The quotation differences for battery swap cabinets mainly lie in five places: compartment control, chargers,Sheet metaland the bay opening, fire protection components, and after-sales package; there are also two differences at the model level. For each point, the question to ask is given, so you can check the quotation sheet in your hand item by item; Daochong's configuration is also listed for comparison.

Cabinet control: how many boards are actually inside the cabinet

The cabinet control is the nerve center of the cabinet, responsible for reading battery information, detecting the temperature inside the cabinet and the cabinet lock status, controlling unlocking, and configuring charging parameters according to battery conditions.The difference in this item lies in how many boards are inside the cabinet and how many bays each board controls.
Under a single-compartment single-control structure, each compartment has an independent control unit, and a fault in one compartment does not affect the others; with a structure where one board carries multiple compartments, a problem with the board may stop several compartments at the same time. This difference is almost invisible on a quotation sheet and must be asked about separately. Daochong takes the former path—Single-compartment single-control, each compartment is equipped with an independent MCU, a problem in one bay does not affect battery swapping in the remaining bays.
How to ask: For a 12-bay cabinet, how many bay control boards are inside?

Charger: three numbers reveal the difference

The charger is where electricity costs are generated, and it is also the part of a quotation most easily glossed over with the two words "high efficiency."Look at three figures:Power factor（PFC）、Conversion Efficiency, and whether it is potted.
High PFC value means low grid-side losses; high conversion efficiency means more power can be charged in for the same amount of electricity. Potting is a genuine, tangible process that helps with heat dissipation and dust protection, making it more durable in high-temperature and high-humidity environments—and the cost reflects that.
Indicators
What to Look For
PFC Value
Has specific values, not just a phrase "high power factor"
Conversion Efficiency
Has specific values; writing "high-efficiency" does not count
Workmanship
Whether it is potted, and how heat dissipation and dust protection are handled
These three figures need specific values, not adjectives. Daochong's charger uses PFC potting process,PFC Value ≥0.96，Conversion Efficiency 90%—92.7%, which can be used to compare against the quotation you have on hand.

Sheet metal and bay openings: only apparent after long use

Thicker sheet metal and one more reinforcing rib all cost money, but this item is often listed on quotations with only a thickness.What to look at is the coordination of four aspects: cabinet structural strength, whether the bay openings can withstand impact, whether there are anti-collision components inside the bays, and the protection rating of the whole cabinet.
Bay opening deformation sounds like an appearance issue, but it actually affects use:If the door cannot close, battery entry and exit and temperature control inside the bay will both be affected. This coordination of four aspects cannot be seen from the quotation alone. Daochong's configuration is as follows:
Component
Approach
Cabinet body
Outdoor galvanized sheet with 5-year color-retention powder coating
Bay opening
Arched compartment opening with three layers of reinforcing ribs, resisting 50kg impact
Inside the cabinet
Anti-collision post
Enclosure
Thickened sheet metal
Maintenance
Front-maintenance design, quick repair with a single screwdriver
The front-maintenance design is also valuable: it can be disassembled with a single screwdriver, with no need to wait for special tools to arrive.

Fire protection components: must be specified to the gram

This item is easily handled vaguely, because quotations usually only say "equipped with aerosol fire suppression.""Equipped with aerosol" is not enough — it must specify grams and how many compartments are covered.
The gram weight directly corresponds to cost and coverage capability; only when the coverage range is clearly stated can prices be compared. Also in this category are smoke sensors, temperature probes, water immersion detection, air switches, leakage protectors, lightning protection, and electricity meters—"Full fire safety equipment" on the checklist means which specific items — each one must be checked line by line.
Daochong's list for this item is set out line by line: 12g aerosol, smoke sensor, temperature probe, water immersion detection, air switch, leakage protector, lightning protection, electricity meter.When purchasing, you can request a detailed breakdown at this granularity and then check it off item by item.

After-sales package: the item most easily cut

After-sales service is not a free gift; it is part of the quotation.Look at three variables: how many years of warranty, which components are covered, and whether the service outlet is in your city.
These three points determine whether this quotation is "buying equipment" or "buying long-term usability." Specific response times and free warranty scope must be written into the contract; anything left only verbal does not count. Dochion's stated terms are: three-year warranty for cabinet control, main control, sheet metal, and charger; one year standard for the complete machine; lifetime maintenance for software services; and 18 service centers nationwide.

There are two more differences that are not among the five components

power level. For cabinets with the same 12 compartments, total power can differ considerably, and power directly determines how many chargers are fitted and how much capacity the power connection must reserve.Besides asking how many bays, you also need to ask what the total power of this cabinet is. Daochong's 12-bay model comes in two tiers: standard version 8kW, swap version 9.6kW.
Whether it comes with front-panel buttons and a display screen. At the same compartment count, some models come with front-panel buttons and a display screen, and some do not; this is an optional item, and adding it raises both cost and quotation. Daochong's tap buttons and display system are fitted on the Paipai model (DC14-M12HDG-PG); the standard model does not have them.InquiryWhen asking, you do not need to use the manufacturer's model name; just ask directly, "Does this price include front-panel buttons and a display screen?" Any supplier can answer that.

Use these questions to check the quotation sheet

What to ask
What kind of answer counts as clear
How many compartment control boards are in the 12 compartments?
Has a clear quantity, and can explain whether each compartment is independently controlled
What are the charger's PFC value and efficiency?
Has specific values, not "high-efficiency"
How much load can the bay opening bear, and does it have reinforcing ribs?
Has specific values, not "sturdy and durable"
How many grams of aerosol, and how many compartments does it cover?
Has a specific gram figure, written on the configuration list
Which components does the warranty cover, and where are the service locations?
Listed item by item, and can be written into the contract
Only a quotation with these five lines clarified is worth comparing prices on.

Final Thoughts

A quotation sheet usually only states the result; the process must be asked about. So when comparing prices, what you compare is not the total price, but the level of each of these items.Same price with different configurations, and same configuration at different prices—you will encounter both. Clarify the configuration first, then discuss price.