Nio has introduced its fourth-generation battery exchange station in China, marking a significant advancement in its service offerings. The new ‘Power Swap Station 4.0’ boasts a 22% faster swapping process than the previous generation, completing a swap in just 144 seconds.
The improved efficiency of the fourth-generation station is a notable upgrade, with the ability to perform up to 480 changes per day, thanks to an enlarged compartment for 23 batteries. This is a significant increase from the third-generation stations, which could hold around a dozen batteries.
Additionally, the ‘Power Swap Stations 4.0’ are equipped with six ultrawide FOV LiDARs and four Orin X chips, providing a total computing power of 1,016 TOPS (Tera Operations per Second).
On June 13, 2024, the first batch of NIO Power Swap Station 4.0 went live. The fourth generation supports automated battery swap for multiple brands and different vehicle models. NIO, ONVO and all battery swap strategic partners can access the new stations for a comprehensively… pic.twitter.com/q2v5PQYbDt
— NIO (@NIOGlobal) June 13, 2024
One of the key enhancements for customers is the convenience of starting an automatic battery swap with just one tap on the center display or even without being in the car. This is a notable improvement from previous processes where the driver had to remain seated in the vehicle during the change process.
However, Nio has not specified whether the fourth-generation stations will still be manned. Currently, each station is supervised by an on-site employee who monitors the battery changes and can intervene if needed.
The first new stations have been installed in the Liwan district of Guangzhou and the Luoji service area on the G40 Shanghai-Shaanxi motorway. The Guangzhou station is particularly significant as it is the first station built by Nio and Zhongan Energy since signing a strategic partnership agreement on March 22.
Nio’s collaboration with Zhongan Energy will also see the development of “All in One” stations in Anhui province, combining power swap stations and charging points with local energy generation from PV systems. Additionally, Nio has launched a liquid-cooled 640 kW charger with a maximum current of 765 amps and a voltage of 1,000 volts. The charger features a liquid-cooled cable developed by Nio, weighing just 2.4 kilograms and designed for easy one-handed operation.
