Nio announced new single-day battery swap service record

On February 15, Nio provided 146,649 battery swaps in a single day, setting a new record, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker announced Monday 

On February 15, the first day of China's 2026 Spring Festival holiday, Nio provided 146,649 battery swaps in a single day, setting a new record high. February 15 marked the first day of China's 2026 Spring Festival holiday, which runs through February 23. The Chinese New Year falls on February 17. 

Nio opened its first battery swap station in Shenzhen on May 20, 2018, and as of July 5, it had 999 battery swap stations and 896 supercharging stations in China. Nio owners were skeptical in the early days of battery swap service availability, but as they have experienced the convenience of the service over the past few years, battery swap has gained widespread acceptance. 

It took Nio 29 months to see its battery swap service reach its first 1 million, 20 months to go from the 1 millionth to the 9 millionth, and only 1 month to go from the 9 millionth to the 10 millionth. On February 6, Nio reached its cumulative 100 millionth battery swap service, marking the battery swap model as a mainstream solution for recharging EVs in China, the company reiterated today. 

To date, Nio operates 3,750 battery swap stations across China, including 1,022 along highways, according to its charging map data. The company also operates 4,926 charging stations in China, providing 28,223 charging piles. 

In 2026, Nio plans to build 1,000 new battery swap stations. The company is poised to commence large-scale construction of its latest fifth-generation battery swap stations, with sub-brand Firefly users soon to enjoy battery swap experiences. 

Over the past 11 years, Nio has invested over 18 billion yuan ($2.6 billion) in charging and battery swap infrastructure, securing more than 2,100 patents, Nio founder, chairman, and CEO William Li mentioned on February 9. 

Nio Power battery swap milestones 

December 16, 2017: The battery swap station debuted on Nio Day 2017. 

May 20, 2018: The first battery swap station - Shenzhen Nanshan Science Park battery swap station put into operation. 

November 15, 2018: 18 battery swap stations for the entire G4 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway put into operation. 

December 15, 2018: 8 battery swap stations for the entire G2 Beijing-Shanghai Expressway were put into operation. 

May 20, 2020: The 131st battery swap station, the Foshan LeZhou Tianyoucheng battery swap station, is put into operation. 

May 25, 2020: Shanghai Auto Expo Park battery swap station completes Nio Power's 500,000th battery swap. 

October 5, 2020: Nio user's cumulative battery swap over 1 million times. 

July 4, 2022: Nio reached the 10 millionth milestone, four years after it first became available. 

April 3, 2023: Nio reached a cumulative total of 20 million battery swaps, just nine months, or 273 days, since the 10 millionth milestone. 

October 9, 2023: Nio reached 30 million cumulative battery swap services provided, just six months after the 20 millionth service. 

March 14, 2024: Nio saw the battery swap service reach 40 million. 

August 5, 2024: Nio has reached its 50 millionth battery swap. 

December 13, 2024: Nio reached its 60 millionth battery swap service today, about four months after it reached the 50 millionth service. 

April 1, 2025: Nio saw its cumulative battery swap service exceed 70 million, less than four months after passing the 60 million milestone. 

July 19, 2025: Nio has seen its cumulative battery swap service exceed 80 million, less than four months after reaching the 70 million milestone. 

October 25, 2026: Nio has surpassed 90 million cumulative battery swap services, reaching this milestone 100 days after its 80 millionth service. 

February 6, 2026: Nio reached its cumulative 100 millionth battery swap service.