NIO Firefly gets 60-kWh battery with 560 km CLTC range

The compact EV adds purchase and rental options, allowing existing owners to upgrade through swapping rather than replace their car 

Firefly, the small electric vehicle brand under NIO, has launched a 60-kWh CATL battery pack, offering new and existing owners a longer-range option that extends the reach of the compact city car. Firefly said on Friday that owners who bought the vehicle outright can permanently upgrade from the standard 42-kWh battery to the 60-kWh pack for a price difference of 17,000 yuan ($2,530). 

The new battery raises the CLTC range to 560 km from 420 km, an increase of 140 km, or about 33%. The model was previously available only with the 42-kWh battery. The update adds a battery capacity option to the same model. New buyers can select the 60-kWh battery when placing orders, while vehicles already delivered can be upgraded through a battery swap. 

Firefly said the new battery uses ternary lithium cells, increasing capacity while keeping the battery size and vehicle curb weight unchanged. It utilises ternary lithium cells with 187.2 Wh/kg, achieving a high volumetric efficiency of 73.4%. 

The battery pack is encased in a robust physical structure and has undergone rigorous testing that exceeds national standards to ensure reliability across various driving conditions, according to Firefly. 

The 2 battery capacities use a compatible standardized module design, with the same housing dimensions, mounting points and locking mechanism, allowing existing vehicles to be upgraded without replacing the entire car. 

The standard-range 42-kWh battery uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. Both battery versions accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and energy consumption remains 10.9 kWh per 100 km. 

Firefly says its model is the only vehicle in its class equipped with CATL ternary lithium batteries and the only one in its class to use a Qilin Long-Life battery. 

Each Firefly battery also has a unique identification number, effectively giving it its own digital ID. Its cloud-based record tracks battery information, cell health, charge level and cycle count. The voltage of every individual cell can be checked. 

AI models analyze large volumes of data to predict risks and alert owners to evacuate or arrange repairs before problems escalate. Whenever a vehicle returns to a battery-swap station, cameras inspect the pack for external damage, and the station conducts further cell-health analysis. 

Firefly is offering purchasing and rental options for the new 60kWh battery configuration:

Full purchase: Starting at 136,800 yuan ($20,400). By comparison, the ongoing 2026 Firefly offers two variants priced at 119,800 to 125,800 yuan ($17,900 to 18,800).

BaaS (Battery-as-a-Service): The battery rental service is priced at 599 yuan ($90) per month. Additionally, a limited-time promotion allows customers to receive one month of service free for every four months purchased. For comparison, the current monthly hire charge for the Firefly battery is 399 yuan ($60). 

Firefly has confirmed that this new 60kWh battery pack is also compatible with existing vehicles, allowing current owners to upgrade their range. Existing customers who wish to upgrade will need to pay an upgrade service fee of 3,000 yuan ($450) if they use BaaS, or pay the 17,000 yuan ($2,500) battery price difference if they have purchased the battery outright. 

The update extends Firefly's expansion of its energy replenishment services. The brand gained access to NIO's fifth-generation battery swap stations for the first time on August 7, having previously been unable to use fourth-generation stations because of its shorter body and wheelbase. 

Firefly's current sole model, which shares the brand's name, launched in China in April 2025. The brand targets the small EV segment, competing with brands including Mini and Smart. The expanded battery lineup comes as Firefly's deliveries continue to grow. 

The brand announced on October 16 that cumulative deliveries reached 90,000 units, about 1.5 months after hitting 80,000 at the end of August. Over the past 18 months, monthly sales have climbed from 3,000 to 5,000 and then 7,000 units.  

Daniel Jin, president of Firefly, sounded pleased with the progress. “There are very few models that can increase both sales volume and average transaction prices 18 months after launch,” he said. 

He added that Firefly is a rare model in China’s NEV market whose monthly sales have continued to rise 18 months after launch. The latest figure was 7,346 units in September. Firefly’s share of China’s market for cars priced above 100K yuan ($15K) has climbed from 27% in January to 46%. NIO founder, chairman and CEO William Li previously said the model had captured 74% of the premium small-car market. 

Global deliveries have now reached 90K units. The next milestone—100K—is not far away and could arrive as soon as next month, Jin said. Jin said 80% of customers who choose the existing 42-kWh version buy it as a second family car, alongside a larger vehicle. The remaining 20% rely on it as their household’s only car. 

With a rated driving range of 560 km, the 60-kWh version is intended to attract more of that second group, including drivers who regularly travel between Suzhou, Changzhou, Changshu and Shanghai. “Both the 42-kWh and 60-kWh versions offer freedom, but in different ways. We call the 42-kWh version ‘City Freedom’ and the 60-kWh version ‘Long-Distance Freedom,’” Jin said.