Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Electric vehicle maker Nio has filed a patent for a new expandable battery swap station system, which aims to address fluctuating demand in battery swap services, according to details released in a public patent application.
The patent, filed on December 27, describes a modular extension unit that can be attached to existing battery swap stations, increasing the number of batteries available. Currently, fourth generation stations can store upt to 23 batteries.
Nio has been upgrading its third-generation battery swap stations in China to accommodate vehicles from its second brand, Onvo. While Nio vehicles use 75kWh batteries for standard range, 100kWh for long range, and 150kWh for ultra-long range, Onvo vehicles are equipped with either 60kWh or 85kWh batteries.
To ensure smooth service for both brands, Nio must stock multiple battery types at each station, allowing drivers to easily find a compatible battery for their vehicle.
As initially reported by the automotive blogger ‘小飞哥_ECC’ on Weibo, this approach will allow the EV maker to adjust the supply to the demand in the cities and the highways, where demand fluctuates drastically between regular days and holidays.
Nio will be able to add battery modules to be deployed temporarily during peak times and removed afterward. The patent, filed by Nio’s Anhui-based technology subsidiary, includes detailed schematics showing how the expansion module integrates with existing stations.
The company ended 2024 with 2,995 battery swap stations in China and plans to open the 3,000th one on Friday, January 3
In December alone, Nio added 254 battery swap stations and 125 charging stations. Of its nearly 3,000 swap stations, 949 are situated along highways. The company’s charging network, which is accessible to several other new energy vehicle (NEV) brands, now features 25,033 chargers.
In China, the company has provided more than 60.5 million battery swaps in the last six years. Eyeing the production ramp up in China—but also globally— Nio has recently started mass production at its recently opened factory in Wuhan.
In 2023, electric vehicle maker Nio constructed more than 1,000 battery swap stations in China, delivering on a promise made a year earlier by founder and CEO William Li. Li had promised to add another 1,000 stations while expanding the company’s “battery swap alliance” to include more EV manufacturers.
However, last July, Li admitted that the target would be missed by “one or two months. “
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
