Nio’s Power Swap Stations are an evolutionary step for mass-market EVs

As demand for efficient and convenient access to electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure continues to rise in in China’s major cities, battery swapping represents a useful alternative to conventional charge stations. This approach enables owners to charge their vehicles without the plug-in infrastructure that other competitors require. Nio is one proponent of battery swap, offering the swappable battery pack as a subscription service separate from the rest of the vehicle. That means a lower average purchase costs for Chinese consumers, and it has proven popular.

With the Shanghai-based automaker now building a new European base in Norway, Automotive World spoke to Hui Zhang, Vice President of Nio Europe, on what’s contributed to battery swapping’s success and where the technology’s future lies outside Chinese markets.