Chinese battery company CATL and automaker Nio are teaming up to launch what they are calling the world’s largest electric vehicle battery swapping network.
Last year, CATL and Nio announced a technical partnership that included battery swapping. Now, they have confirmed their plans to collaborate as they expand their battery swapping stations.
Nio launches Firefly EV brand during Nio Day 2024
The two companies will run their networks independently but will increase collaboration over time. CATL’s Chico-Swap standards will be integrated into Nio’s Firefly brand electric vehicles, and both companies will work towards establishing national standards for battery swapping technology in China to accommodate other brands in the future.
CATL is also investing 2.5 billion yuan (approximately $345 million) in Nio Power, the automaker’s charging and battery swapping division, as part of their ongoing partnership.
Nio launches Firefly EV brand during Nio Day 2024
Nio has been a pioneer in battery swapping among Chinese automakers, with 3,172 swapping stations in China, including 1,000 along major highways connecting over 700 cities. Volvo and Polestar have shown interest in the technology, and several Chinese automakers have partnered to test or incorporate battery swapping in their models.
No other country outside China has a battery swapping network of this scale. While some automakers like Ford have hinted at exploring battery swapping, none have made significant investments in the technology. In the U.S., startup Ample is working on a large-scale battery swapping system that can accommodate different vehicles.