Nio enables flexible battery replacement

Previously, Nio customers had to decide when purchasing the vehicle whether they wanted to use the standard range battery with an energy content of 75 kWh or the long range battery with 100 kWh. For 169 or 289 euros per month, it was then only possible to swap for a battery of the same type at the Power Swap Stations – it was therefore not possible to switch between the two battery sizes.

Following the success of the flexible battery swap in China, Nio is now also offering this service in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden – at least on a monthly basis. In these markets, customers can now flexibly choose the right battery size for the next few weeks. The logic: in everyday life with short distances, the cheaper standard range battery is sufficient. However, if a long-distance journey such as a holiday is on the cards, the extended-range battery can be selected for a month – or even for several months if you realise that you need the longer range. Nio itself claims up to 30 per cent more range with the large battery, although the actual value may vary between models.

In China, battery replacement is even more flexible. Not only is there a third battery option with the 150 kWh ‘Ultra Long Range’ battery, but users can also book different battery sizes on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. For example, it is possible to book the 150 kWh battery for just one day with a business trip. ‘This means that most users are already opting for the more cost-effective standard range battery on a day-to-day basis and temporarily upgrading to larger batteries when required,’ says Nio.

Specifically, users can book the new service via the Nio app a maximum of one day in advance, depending on availability. The next day, they will then receive a charged battery with a long range at a Power Swap Station in their respective country. The battery swap itself is exactly the same, regardless of whether a battery of the same type or a change to the larger or smaller option is carried out.

‘With the flexible battery upgrade, European NIO users benefit from freedom of choice, comfort and peace of mind when it comes to their range – all at a lower cost,’ says Kajsa Ivansson Sognefur, Head of Nio Power Europe. ‘We are giving our users the opportunity to choose the battery that best suits their needs. This is the future of flexible, user-centred electromobility.’

Nio had already emphasised in the past that it would be technically possible to switch between different battery sizes in Europe without any problems. The fact that this service has not yet been offered was explained by Nio as being due to tax regulations. The requirements for company car taxation, for example, were not designed for the BaaS model with a low purchase price and monthly battery rental. The company car tax was therefore based on the vehicle price with the purchased battery.

We recently tested a Nio EL6, which costs 53,500 euros without a battery. With a purchased standard range battery (12,000 euros), the basis for calculating the non-cash benefit would therefore be 65,500 euros. However, a purchase price of 21,000 euros is calculated for the long-range battery, which means that 74,500 euros is used as the basis for taxation. This means that the non-cash benefit for company cars would also change each month and would have to be taxed. It is not clear from the press release how the flexible battery exchange scheme for company cars will now be regulated. As soon as Nio responds to our enquiry on the subject, we will add the information here.

Source: Info via email