NIO marks 100 million battery swaps as EV infrastructure push accelerates
Since opening its first station in 2018, NIO has expanded to 3,790 swap stations worldwide.
NIO has completed its 100 millionth battery swap, a milestone the company says underscores the growing maturity of battery‑swapping as a mainstream alternative to conventional EV charging. The achievement, recorded at 22:33:18 on 6 February 2026, highlights the scale of a network that now delivers an average swap in just three minutes.
According to the company, the system has supplied 5.28 billion kWh of energy to date, saving users 83.41 million hours compared with standard charging, or roughly 88 hours per user. The financial gains are equally substantial: cumulative energy‑cost savings exceed RMB 26.3 billion, averaging RMB 27,000 per user, when compared with refuelling a combustion‑engine vehicle
At a company event, founder William Li reflected on the evolution of the technology, noting that NIO now holds more than 2,100 patents related to charging and swapping, including 1,500 in battery swapping alone. Fifth‑generation swap stations are due to launch in 2026.
Since opening its first station in 2018, NIO has expanded to 3,790 swap stations worldwide, including 1,020 along major Chinese highways. The company plans to add 1,000 more in 2026, extend its Power Journeys routes to 100, and link its network along the historic Silk Road.
