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 onerous 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 thought in a current publish 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 instances in each the letter and Shen’s response, which he shared on his Weibo account on Saturday.”

I don’t know what’s happening right here, nevertheless it seems like some sort of battle for purchasers in China. I simply discover it humorous that somebody would assault an organization’s battery swapping method 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 creating its huge battery swapping community, and have all the time puzzled how that will evolve.

“Battery swapping is all the time an intermediate course of. You all the time should go someplace to do one thing particularly for one more objective—identical to going to a gasoline station to refuel,” the unique publish famous, earlier than including that charging “could be a vacation spot or a cease alongside the best way.” That’s all honest 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 plenty of eventualities?

“After you park, you don’t want any additional 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 typically folks may additionally profit from a fast 3-minute battery swap, and there are a lot of 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 know-how, however after testing it, we deserted it for 3 causes:

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

“2. Security considerations: 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 element of the car, which reinforces security.

“3. Price management: Each battery swap station is sort of a actual property funding—you need to lease or purchase land. Nevertheless, with charging, present parking heaps can be utilized with out extra 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 true information: Battery swapping and charging should not in battle! Nio affords ‘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 out there, a 3-minute battery swap will get you again on the highway—a lot quicker 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 automobile’s engine stays the identical after 10 years, however a Nio automobile from 2018 can now use the newest 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 straightforward repair with out changing all the things.”

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 lowering hearth dangers!”

These are plenty of benefits that the majority of us don’t even contemplate when occupied with 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 nearly by no means wanted. You don’t want a monster battery should you 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 totally different,” Shen Fei added. “However we have now Nio, and with regards to battery swapping, China simply does it higher!” Perhaps that’s the case now.