A screenshot from a video shows Firefly testing the compatibility of Nio’s fifth-generation battery swap station.
- Nio will open the first batch of fifth-generation battery swap stations in mid-to-late June, with mass deployment starting in the third quarter.
- Firefly users previously received a software update adding a parking assist feature in preparation for the new facilities.
Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO) will open its first batch of pioneer fifth-generation battery swap stations in mid-to-late June, opening up the redesigned infrastructure to users of its compact EV brand Firefly for the first time.
Firefly president Daniel Jin confirmed the timeline on Weibo on Thursday. Internal testing of the fifth-generation stations has been in full swing, he said.
Nio is conducting extensive system debugging work to ensure the new stations are compatible with all Nio Inc models, from the largest to the smallest, and to provide a safe battery swap experience, Jin said.
Jin recently completed the acceptance check of Firefly’s battery swap function at a test station in Kunshan, Jiangsu province. The mass deployment of the fifth-generation stations will officially begin in the third quarter of this year, he said.
The redesign allows the new stations to support a wider range of vehicle wheelbases. It means the new facilities can accommodate large SUV (sport utility vehicle) models like the newly released ES9, as well as Firefly’s compact EVs.
Previously, Firefly models were not supported by Nio’s fourth-generation stations due to their short wheelbases.
In preparation for the new-generation facilities, Firefly rolled out a system upgrade in the middle of this month.
The software update, dubbed Aster 1.5.0, added a battery swap station parking assist feature, which is specifically designed to help drivers automatically park their vehicles into the upcoming fifth-generation stations that will soon enter trial operations.
The starting price of the facelifted Firefly EV remains unchanged at 119,800 yuan ($17,670). The free over-the-air update also increased the peak motor power of older models to 120 kW (161 hp).
Nio plans to add more than 1,000 battery swap stations this year. As of today, the company operates 3,873 swap stations in China.
Nio has slowed its infrastructure expansion over the past two years to control capital expenditures. To achieve its construction targets, the company is increasingly relying on partnerships to share costs and benefits.
The main Nio brand currently has access to all swap stations, while the Onvo sub-brand has access to most of them. With the commissioning of the fifth-generation stations, Nio Inc will achieve its goal of sharing the battery swap network across all three of its brands.
Firefly has become Nio’s pioneer brand for entering international markets. The brand has already entered several European countries, as well as right-hand drive markets including Thailand and Singapore.
The brand delivered 4,980 vehicles in April. This contributed about 17% of Nio Inc’s total deliveries of 29,356 units in April.
The total number of swap stations currently available to Onvo stands at 2,491.
($1 = 6.7799 yuan)
