While battery swapping was considered by Tesla many years ago, it is Chinese carmaker Nio that has actually implemented the technology into production EVs. It is now planning to add hundreds of more battery-swapping stations to its already-expansive network throughout China.
The chief executive of the electric vehicle startup, William Li, recently posted to the Nio App and confirmed plans to build 1,000 new battery-swap facilities in China this year. Nio will focus on the nation’s third- and fourth-tier cities and counties and by the end of the year, will have some 2,300 battery-swapping stations in operation.
Of the 1,000 new stations set to be constructed, 400 will be located along highways while the remaining 600 will be in urban areas, Al Jazeera reports.
Read: NIO Customers Had Performed Over 4 Million Battery Swaps With Their EVs By 2021
Nio had originally intended on adding 400 new battery swapping stations this year but after making a trip to northeastern China and various cities in Zhejiang, Li said that more stations are needed to improve the ownership experience of its customers.
Battery swapping is a service that has been well-received by Nio customers in China with millions of swaps performed each year since the service started. To perform a swap, a Nio owner simply needs to open the company’s smartphone application and find a nearby Power Station. The app states how many fully charged batteries are available at that station and how many vehicles are waiting for a battery swap.
When the owner arrives, a Nio employee at the site will reverse the EV into the station. The system them automatically hoists the vehicle in the air and removes the screws securing the battery in place. The depleted battery is then taken below ground and charged while a new battery pack is automatically installed. The whole process takes just 3 minutes.
