NIO’s first 4th-gen power swap stations come online

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On June 13, NIO officially launched the first batch of its fourth-generation power swap stations, which will support multiple brands and car models for automatic battery swapping. This upgrade aims to provide a more convenient battery swapping experience for car users of NIO, ONVO, and other strategic partners, making charging more convenient than refueling.

Photo credit: NIO

The fourth-generation NIO power swap stations are equipped with six ultra-wide-angle LiDAR units and four Orin X chips, offering computing power of 1,016 TOPS. They support one-click automatic battery swapping and automatic battery swapping with drivers leaving their cars. Compared to the previous generation, the new stations have increased the battery swap speed by 22%, with the fastest swap taking just 2 minutes and 24 seconds. The number of battery compartments has been increased to 23, and the stations can now handle up to 480 swaps per day, significantly improving efficiency and service capacity.

Additionally, NIO has introduced an ultra-fast liquid-cooled charging pile, with a maximum power of 640kW, a maximum output current of 765A, and a peak output voltage of 1,000V. The self-developed liquid-cooled charging gun weighs only 2.4kg, similar to an ordinary laptop, making it easy to operate with one hand.

The first batch of the NIO fourth-generation power swap stations have been launched at Liwan Huadi Plaza in Guangzhou city and the Luoji Service Area on the G40 Hushan Expressway in Lu'an city.

The Liwan Huadi Plaza station is located near the Guangzhou Ring Expressway and connects to several major highways, including the S15 Guangfo Expressway and the Guangzhou Airport Expressway. This station will further enhance the charging service network in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, improving charging efficiency and user experience.

The Luoji Service Area station in Lu'an is the first swap station built in collaboration between NIO and Zhongan Energy, following their cooperation agreement signed on March 22 this year. According to their plan, NIO and Zhongan Energy will base their efforts in Anhui Province, extend to the Yangtze River Delta, and eventually cover the entire country. They plan to build 1,000 stations integrated with storage, electric vehicle (EV) charging, and battery swapping capabilities, creating an open and shared energy network.

Since its establishment, NIO has continuously invested in R&D of battery swapping and EV charging technologies and products. As of June 13, NIO has built 2,432 power swap stations and 22,633 EV charging piles across the country, including 804 stations and 1,650 ultra-fast charging piles along expressways.

As a result, an increasing number of car manufacturers have joined NIO's energy replenishment network. Since November 2023, brands such as Changan Automobile, Geely Automobile, SAIC-GM, XPENG, Ji Yue, and IM Motors have partnered with NIO for EV charging and battery swapping services.