NIO Claps Again At Tesla Battery Swapping Claims

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Final Up to date on: twenty first February 2025, 01:58 am

NIO has accomplished greater than 66 million battery swaps at its 3,000+ battery swapping stations. Tesla had one battery swapping station that was arduous to search out and barely used a couple of decade in the past in California. Nonetheless, reportedly, somebody at Tesla tried to shoot down battery swapping as a horrible concept in a current submit titled “What are the benefits of charging in comparison with battery swapping?” that was apparently directed at NIO Vice President of Energy Shen Fei. “Though the automaker was not explicitly named, Tesla was talked about a number of occasions in each the letter and Shen’s response, which he shared on his Weibo account on Saturday.”

I don’t know what’s occurring right here, nevertheless it appears like some form of battle for patrons in China. I simply discover it humorous that somebody would assault an organization’s battery swapping strategy as pointless when the corporate has carried out 66 million battery swaps. Additionally, I’ve discovered it fascinating that NIO has mainly stood alone within the auto world in growing its huge battery swapping community, and have at all times questioned how that will evolve.

“Battery swapping is at all times an intermediate course of. You at all times need to go someplace to do one thing particularly for one more function—similar to going to a gasoline station to refuel,” the unique submit famous, earlier than including that charging “is usually a vacation spot or a cease alongside the way in which.” That’s all truthful and good, and nobody is saying charging doesn’t have a spot and have some benefits, however maybe battery swapping additionally has a spot for lots of people and a number of situations?

“After you park, you don’t want any further steps. You simply plug within the charger, and by the point you’re prepared to go away, the battery is charged,” the assertion added. Yep, we get all that, and have been making this level for a decade and a half (or longer for a few of you readers). However generally folks might additionally profit from a fast 3-minute battery swap, and there are various individuals who don’t have handy dwelling or office charging.

Right here’s extra (translated) from the unique letter criticizing NIO’s battery swap system:

“Tesla had extremely superior battery swapping expertise, however after testing it, we deserted it for 3 causes:

“1. Technological iteration: Battery expertise is continually evolving. Tesla integrates the battery into the car chassis, decreasing weight and enhancing effectivity. Nevertheless, the structural constraints of battery swapping forestall flexibility in adapting new battery applied sciences.

“2. Security issues: Battery swapping requires frequent disassembly and set up of high-voltage elements and fasteners. Doesn’t this pose security dangers? Whereas we don’t know for sure, it’s value contemplating. Moreover, Tesla treats the battery as an integral structural part of the car, which reinforces security.

“3. Value management: Each battery swap station is sort of a actual property funding—it’s a must to hire or purchase land. Nevertheless, with charging, current parking tons can be utilized with out further infrastructure prices.”

Shen Fei clapped again, beginning with a little bit of humor. “Obtained a ‘battery swapping’ speaking factors card from a competitor—fairly fascinating! [laughing emoji]”

“Listed below are the actual information: Battery swapping and charging will not be in battle! Nio provides ‘chargeable, swappable, and upgradeable’ choices,” he acknowledged. Precisely — the extra selection, the merrier, proper?

“Charging at house is nice (Nio helps that too), however for lengthy journeys or when dwelling charging isn’t accessible, a 3-minute battery swap will get you again on the highway—a lot sooner than charging!” NIO’s VP added. “No have to step out within the wind or rain.”

NIO additionally provides that it has put in greater than 20,000 charging piles, along with the entire battery swapping infrastructure.

“A gasoline automotive’s engine stays the identical after 10 years, however a Nio automotive from 2018 can now use the most recent battery, doubling its vary!” Shen Fei added. “Built-in battery and chassis? Professionals and cons! If the battery breaks, repairs could be insanely costly,” Fei Shen argues, however with battery swapping, drivers “get each an improve and a simple repair with out changing every little thing.”

Nio’s “battery swap fasteners maintain a nationwide patent—3,000 swaps with out loosening, good for 600,000 km,” and “each swap features a battery check-up, detecting small points early and considerably decreasing fireplace dangers!”

These are a number of benefits that almost all of us don’t even think about when desirous about battery swapping.

Shen Fei additionally factors out that battery swapping could be extra useful resource environment friendly, whereas outsized batteries sit being unused more often than not simply to supply lengthy vary that’s virtually by no means wanted. You don’t want a monster battery if you happen to can rapidly do a battery swap. These batteries can be used for electrical energy backup within the area.

“Tesla didn’t make it work again then as a result of American and Chinese language shopper wants are completely different,” Shen Fei added. “However we have now Nio, and in relation to battery swapping, China simply does it higher!” Possibly that’s the case now.