Shanghai – NIO, a pioneer in electric vehicle technology, first demonstrated its concept of unattended parking assist and battery swapping at the Wukesong Stadium on NIO Day in 2017. The company’s Power Swap technology has been one of the most beloved features for its users, with more than 1,300 Power Swap Stations in China and 10 operating Power Swap Stations in Europe. To date, these stations have performed over 15 million swaps.
With a goal to install 120 Power Swap Stations in Europe by the end of 2023, NIO aims to make electric driving more comfortable and faster than ever, even over longer distances. Over the past five years, the company has invested over RMB 2 billion in its Power Swap technology, with over 600 engineers participating in R&D tests and over 1,200 patents filed.
NIO’s Power Swap technology advantages include battery swapping facilities, fastener bolt suites, vehicle integration and validation, and encrypted vehicle-station wireless communication. NIO has set international and industrial standards for battery swapping, compiling five relevant standards and applying for over 1,000 relevant patents.
NIO is also introducing a new service called BaaS (Battery as a Service), which provides comprehensive services enabled by vehicle-battery separation, battery subscription, and the chargeable, swappable, and upgradable battery. This innovation addresses users’ concerns about buying smart electric vehicles and provides a better purchasing and using experience.
In addition, the European NIO Power Swap Station network is expanding rapidly, with another NIO Power Swap Station opening in Den Hoorn, the third location in the Netherlands. There are now 10 NIO Swap Stations open for European users, including two in Germany, three in Norway, and two in Sweden. Each station can perform up to 312 swaps per day and charge up to 13 batteries with a power of 20 to 80 kW per battery.
The Power Swap Stations will soon offer the option to balance the grid frequency in Europe, making the electricity network more efficient and providing sustainable energy. NIO’s Power Swap technology can thus play an important role in the future of sustainable transportation.
