NIO, the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has successfully demonstrated the superior benefits of using battery swap stations. These stations are quickly becoming popular among EV owners, with the company recently celebrating its 30th million battery swap through a live-streamed event.
Recognized as a veteran in the EV scene and an industry-leading tech brand in China, NIO not only produces some of the world’s best electric vehicles, but also introduces innovative technologies like mobile software and battery swap stations.
Embracing and Advancing Battery Swap Technology
While NIO didn’t invent battery swapping, they have been more successful than most in popularizing this technology in passenger vehicles. For over five years, they have worked diligently to illustrate the benefits of using battery swap stations.
Countless automakers, including Tesla, have dabbled in battery swap technology in the past, but abandoned it due to resource consumption, grid dependency, and large physical footprints. Conversely, automakers in China and Europe continue to experiment with this technology, albeit not as extensively.
Despite the skepticism, battery swaps have found considerable success in the micromobility sector worldwide and are beginning to service rideshare EVs in the US. During this time, NIO has tirelessly continued to expand its network of battery swap stations.
Expanding Beyond China
Following their expansion out of China into Europe, NIO stuck with their plan of offering battery leases and installing swap stations. They’re also considering licensing out their technology.
Currently, NIO operates over 1,900 swap stations in China and Europe, providing a unique alternative to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) sold by their competitors. Initially considered more of a hassle than a solution, the undeniable progress made by NIO suggests otherwise, hinting at the potential for battery swapping to become a globally accepted solution for EV owners.
Battery Swaps: A Practical Option for EVs
In China, NIO employees recently gathered to watch a live stream as the battery swap counter hit 30 million swaps—a considerable milestone. It took the company four years to complete 10 million swaps, but then only nine months to double this figure. Within six months, they hit the 30 million mark. During the recent National Day holiday in China, NIO completed a record of 78,233 battery swaps, indicating widespread acceptance of the technology.
According to NIO Power’s vice president, Shen Fei, in a recent post on Weibo, battery swaps provide a superior solution for long-distance EV trips. The process takes only 9-10 minutes, making it faster than charging.
Looking forward, NIO aims to operate at least 2,300 swap stations in China by the end of 2023 and plans to introduce 1,000 new stations this year. Given the increasing popularity of battery swaps in China, it will be noteworthy to see how quickly NIO will reach the 40 million swaps milestone, especially as they continue to expand their operations in Europe.
