NIO Power Swap Network: status and timeline

NIO Power Swap Network

Automated battery-exchange network with robotic swap stations across China. Drivers pull in, align, and in under 3 minutes the station removes the depleted battery and installs a fully charged replacement.

DeployStage 4 of 5

3,700+ stations, 700+ cities; world's largest battery-swap network.

Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Network at 3,700+ stations, connects 700+ cities

First Power Swap station opens in Shenzhen20 May 2018Complete.
Network expands to 700 stationsDec 2021Complete.
Reaches 2,000 stationsOct 2023Complete.
Hits 3,000 stations milestoneJan 2025Complete.
Network at 3,700+ stations, connects 700+ citiesTarget Oct 2026Current milestone.

Upcoming

Oct 2026Network at 3,700+ stations, connects 700+ cities (next)

Current obstacles

Competition from fast-charging infrastructureOther EV makers and charging networks bet on ultra-fast 350+ kW charging, which adds 500 km range in 10–15 minutes without swapping infrastructure.
International scalabilityGlobal standards favour plug-in charging over swapping; replicating overseas needs new standards.

Physics limits

Battery standardizationNIO can swap only batteries that fit its standard pack design. If the company changes battery form factors or other EV makers don't adopt the same standard, network value decreases.
Charging the swapped batteriesA swap station must be connected to a massive grid of chargers to re-energize swapped batteries for the next customer. The station can only swap batteries as fast as they can be recharged.

How it works

3 parts

Automated exchange

Robotic station operation

Driver aligns vehicle; machinery removes depleted pack and installs charged one without human help.

Battery ownership model

Leasing reduces capital cost

Customers own the NIO vehicle but lease the battery pack, reducing upfront purchase price and shifting battery degradation cost to NIO.

Network coverage

Nationwide infrastructure

Stations spaced ~200 km apart on highways; deployed in 700+ cities. Enables long-distance travel without waiting.

Spec sheet

Spec	NIO Power Swap Network
Battery swap duration	Under 3 minutes^R (reported)
Power Swap stations (est.)	3,000+^R (reported)
Cities with service	700+^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

About NIO

The team behind NIO Power Swap Network

NIO

Premium EV, battery swap, Power Swap, ET5 ET7 ET9

Chinese premium EV maker and operator of the world's largest battery-swap network. NIO customers exchange depleted batteries for charged packs in under 3 minutes.

Power Swap network: 3,700+ stations across 700+ Chinese cities, world's largest battery-swap infrastructure.
Premium sedan lineup (ET5, ET7, ET9) and compact/mass-market models (ES6, ES7, ES8, EC6, EC7) all integrated with battery-swap ecosystem.
Vertical integration: customers own vehicle but lease battery; swap stations handle recharging and inventory.

nio.com (opens nio.com)Company profile →

Founded: 201412 yrs
Headquarters: China
Status: Public
Listed: NIO (opens google.com)NASDAQ
Valuation: public
Works in: VehiclesElectric cars
Coverage: 2 programs · 4 updateslatest 1 Jan 2025checked 10 Oct
People: William Li (opens en.wikipedia.org)Co-founder and CEO

Spec

NIO Power Swap Network

Battery swap duration

Under 3 minutes^R (reported)

Power Swap stations (est.)

3,000+^R (reported)

Cities with service

700+^R (reported)